Paul Murphy: Calls 'war is a racket', demands action on oil prices
Paul Murphy addressed the Dáil on the impact of the recent Middle East war and rising energy costs, condemning the conflict and linking it to profiteering. He urged investigations into price gouging by energy companies and asked whether the government will use price control powers.
Allegations of profiteering
Paul Murphy said the war is "an opportunity for many profiteering companies and individuals" and argued that energy prices are already rising as a result. He cited an €80 increase in home heating oil since the previous Friday and said there was no justification because oil would already have been bought before the bombing started.
Calls for regulatory scrutiny
He said he had asked the Consumer Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to examine any unfair pricing practices and noted that the issue would be raised with the Minister for Energy. He challenged the government to consider using its power to introduce price controls.
Reference to past cost-of-living crisis
Paul Murphy warned that the current situation is "like back to the future," recalling the cost of living crisis five years earlier when, he said, reports repeatedly appeared to vindicate energy companies and supermarkets and no effective action was taken.
Position on war and foreign policy
He described war as "a terrible thing," expressed a preference for diplomatic, peaceful resolution of conflicts, and said he was satisfied that Ireland's approach to world affairs is one of peace, generosity, aid and peacekeeping. He framed Ireland's foreign policy as focused on helping those "who are farthest behind," calling that the hallmark of Irish aid and peacekeeping.
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Thanks, Ciancorda. T-shirt, war is a racket. It's an opportunity for many profiteering companies and individuals to try to rip people off. And with Trump's new reckless, illegal, criminal, imperialist war in the Middle East, energy prices are going to rise even higher. In some cases they already have. So the cost of home heating oil has gone up 80 euros since last Friday, for which there is no justification that oil would already have been bought before the bombing started. You said earlier that you're going to raise this price gouging with the Minister for Energy and I've asked the Consumer Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to examine any unfair pricing practices. This is like back to the future. We heard all of this when the cost of living crisis started five years ago, ultimately refused to do anything at all. Report after report, seemingly vindicating energy companies and supermarkets, claiming they're not profiteering when it's obvious that there are. You have the power to introduce price controls. T-shirt, will you use that power? Deputy Heenehan. Thanks, Deputy Heenehan. Murph. War is a terrible thing. I have no interest in war. I would prefer if all issues could be resolved diplomatically through peaceful means. I'm satisfied that Ireland's approach to world affairs is one of peace, trying to help other people, generosity, and particularly helping those who are farthest behind, which has always been the hallmark of Irish foreign policy, Irish aid and peacekeeping. And that concludes Chief.
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