Carol Nolan warns €100 rebate won't protect renters or elderly
Carol Nolan addressed rising energy and cost-of-living pressures, arguing the proposed €100 rebate is insufficient and supporting an amendment to protect those in the rental market. She called for immediate action and a mini-budget with wider measures to shield renters, elderly people and businesses.
Price volatility cited
She cited Oireachtas research showing more price volatility in the last 11 months than in 12 years combined and said this volatility has had a serious impact on households.
Rebate criticised and amendment supported
She said the €100 rebate will not go far for lower-paid people and that a rebate alone will not address immediate needs. Nolan said she supports the amendment that seeks to protect those in the rental market but urged more comprehensive measures.
Concerns for elderly people and businesses
She referenced Age Action Ireland highlighting the serious impact on elderly people and argued that businesses, already weakened by COVID restrictions, are being badly treated and need protection as they try to recover.
European examples of wider measures
She pointed to responses from other countries: Austria said it will spend £1.7 billion and suspend an eco-tax that adds about €33 a year to bills while pledging €300 back to those out of work, with electricity up 12.4 per cent on last year. Belgium announced cuts to value-added tax on electricity, a €100 relief on bills and an extension of its social price rate. Britain faces a 54 per cent rise in its price cap from April 1 and launched measures including a £200 discount on electricity bills (to be repaid over five years) and a £150 rebate on council tax for about 80 per cent of households in England. Bulgaria's parliament voted in December to freeze power and heating prices for households until the end of March.
Call for a mini-budget and a protective package
She urged that the government must come up with a package that will deliver and protect the most vulnerable in society, including those in the rental market, elderly people and businesses, arguing that immediate action beyond a one-off rebate is required.
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Minister, the Oireachtas has shown itself from research that we have had more price volatility in the last 11 months than we have had in 12 years combined and that this has had a serious impact on households. Now the rebate does not go far enough and I do support this amendment which seeks to protect those in the rental market. But that 100 euro debate will not go far, a rebate will not go far enough in terms of lower paid people and bearing in mind that those in the rental sector are constantly trying to cope with spiralling rental prices and other costs of living pressures. But we do need immediate action and a rebate won't address that 100 euro rebate. There are many measures needed and I feel that a mini budget must deliver for those, particularly the most vulnerable. We have had Age Action Ireland highlighting its concerns in terms of elderly people and the serious impact it is having on them. But we have seen also that many countries in the European Union have brought out a range of measures to try and protect the most vulnerable and offset and counteract the electricity prices and what not and the negative impact it is having on so many families around Europe. For example, Austria says it will spend £1.7 billion on easing the impact of surging power prices on families. The measures announced last week include suspending an eco-tax introduced six years ago. That adds about €33 a year to bills. The government is also pledging to hand €300 back to those out of work. Electricity prices there are up 12.4 per cent on last year. Belgium said earlier this month that it will cut value-added tax on electricity as part of a package to shield consumers from rising energy prices. It is also giving all households a €100 relief on electricity bills and extending its social price rate. Britain's price cap will rise by 54 per cent from April 1. The regulator Ofgem announced on Thursday in its six-monthly review of prices. To limit the impact, the government launched a package of measures including a £200 discount on electricity bills for all households to be repaid over five years, and a £150 rebate on council tax bills for about 80 per cent of the households of England. Bulgaria's parliament voted in December to freeze power and heating prices for households until the end of March, in a move seen as allowing time for the new coalition government to come up with a plan to shield households from surging energy costs. I feel that this government must come up with a package that will deliver and will protect the most vulnerable in our society, including those in the rental market, including our elderly people and particularly our businesses who are being very badly treated and are trying to get on their feet after COVID restrictions and what not has put them on the back foot. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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