Irish Examiner View: We all must to our bit to break the West’s reliance on Russian energy

Micheál Martin said the “advice generally” will be to do the best we can when it comes to reducing peak-time energy usage.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin is using energy supply as a weapon of war against democracies. Picture: Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP

It is hard to underplay the significance of the Budget 2023 process. Winter is coming, and it is likely to be difficult. Electoral fortunes will depend on the ability to keep citizens warm, if not financially comfortable.

While the European Central Bank has signalled further storm warnings, raising its interest rates by 0.75% in its attack on inflation, the domestic debate here is around what can be done to help increasingly hard-pressed families.