Simon Harris: Leaders to Meet Over 'Worst Ever' Energy Crisis
Simon Harris says the current energy crisis "is the worst the world has ever seen" and confirms a leaders' meeting with the Taoiseach and Minister Canny this week to review energy supply and security. He reassures the public that Ireland's economy is in a strong position and that government will take decisions step by step.
Leaders' meeting: Simon Harris confirms he and the Taoiseach, together with Minister Canny, will hold a specific leaders' meeting this week dedicated to the issue of energy. The meeting is intended to brief leaders on energy supply and security and to take stock of where the country stands.
Government coordination: Harris emphasises the need for continuous, intensive work across government, state agencies and international partners. He says the response requires day-in, day-out focus as Ireland seeks to navigate a global energy shock.
Economic resilience: The minister underlines that this is not 2008, noting full employment, a growing economy and fiscal buffers. He presents Ireland's current economic strengths as critical context for responding to the crisis.
Caution and next steps: Simon Harris warns it would be premature to rule any option in or out and urges a step-by-step approach. The government will assess developments carefully before taking further decisions.
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The energy crisis that we're living through now is the worst the world has ever seen and it's really important that day in, day out, hour in, hour out, government works intensively with colleagues across government, across state agencies and indeed across the world as we seek to navigate this. I do want to say a couple of things though. Firstly, myself and the Taoiseach will meet this week along with Minister Canny. We'll have a specific leaders meeting dedicated to the issue of energy. I think that's really important, an opportunity for us to be briefed and take stock on where we're at from an energy supply, energy security point of view. I would also say this to the Irish people, while this is a moment of challenge, this is not 2008. The Irish economy is in a strong position and we have a country with full employment, our economy growing, fiscal buffers built up and this is not an Irish creation solution. So we will work our way through this. At this stage, it would be premature, it would be foolish to rule anything further in or out. We have to take this step by step.
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