Erin McGreehan: Urgent plan needed to cut soaring energy costs
Erin McGreehan pressed the Taoiseach on rising fuel and energy costs, calling for a clear plan to reduce bills and protect hauliers, coach operators and households. She asked the government to keep supports under review, front-load investment in alternative energy and expand retrofit programmes.
Erin McGreehan set out immediate worries about fluctuating fuel prices affecting families and small businesses, and highlighted how the recent conflict in the Middle East adds another shock to energy supply chains.
McGreehan described the pressure on hauliers and coach operators, particularly along the M1 corridor, and emphasised how households are struggling with heating and everyday costs. She argued that short-term relief is necessary but not sufficient.
She urged the government to front-load investment in alternative energy sources, advance credit infrastructure plans and extend retrofit and energy efficiency programmes including solar and insulation measures.
In reply the Taoiseach acknowledged the haulage sector's importance, reiterated recent engagement with the industry and said today's measures offer partial relief while recognising the pressures remain significant. McGreehan pressed for mechanisms to adjust supports if the situation worsens.
Immediate concerns
Erin McGreehan set out immediate worries about fluctuating fuel prices affecting families and small businesses, and highlighted how the recent conflict in the Middle East adds another shock to energy supply chains.
Industry and household impact
McGreehan described the pressure on hauliers and coach operators, particularly along the M1 corridor, and emphasised how households are struggling with heating and everyday costs. She argued that short-term relief is necessary but not sufficient.
Policy proposals
She urged the government to front-load investment in alternative energy sources, advance credit infrastructure plans and extend retrofit and energy efficiency programmes including solar and insulation measures.
Government response
In reply the Taoiseach acknowledged the haulage sector's importance, reiterated recent engagement with the industry and said today's measures offer partial relief while recognising the pressures remain significant. McGreehan pressed for mechanisms to adjust supports if the situation worsens.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, I acknowledge the temporary measures that have been introduced to help address the rising fuel and energy costs. They will offer some short-term support at a time when many households, as we all know, and businesses are feeling real pain. I spoke with many loud hauliers, coach operators and households who are desperately worried about what's to come. This conflict in the Middle East is the latest in supply chain shock for our energy markets. The uncertainty around supply chains are creating real fears about what lies ahead. In loud, right-of-course country families are already finding it difficult to manage heating and everyday living costs. Small businesses are affected, coach operators and hauliers along the M1 corridor are continuing to face the fluctuating fuel costs. We need a real plan to start reducing costs of our energy in this country. You know this Taoiseach, it is unsustainable. Given these global pressures and local challenges, can you outline how the government will intend to keep the situation under close review, ensure the supports can be adjusted if it worsens, and also can we start front-loading investment into alternative energy sources, advancing our credit infrastructure plan and extending our retrofit programmes to really help to prove these problems? Thank you Deputy for raising this issue. Certainly in terms of hauliers and coaches, I think the haulage industry is a very key industry which has been underestimated in terms of its role in our modern economy, in getting goods from ports to shelves and from manufacturing facilities to the ships to our export markets. I am very interested in making sure we have a sustainable haulage industry into the future and Minister Darra Bryant has engaged with the industry over the last number of weeks and today's measures reflect a part of that engagement in terms of some ease of the pressure, although acknowledging that the pressures are still very, very significant on the industry. More generally, you are correct in terms of driving forward with the retrofitting programme and energy efficiency programmes in terms of solar, in terms of insulation and in terms of front-loading. We will do everything we can to support businesses and households in terms of any energy efficiency measures that they can take that could help in the short term.