Carol Nolan condemns energy policy as political negligence
Carol Nolan criticised the government's energy policy in a parliamentary speech, saying rising gas and electricity costs threaten households and social housing tenants. She argued the rapid push to renewables without alternatives is a form of political negligence that will deepen living standards decline.
Energy costs and public anger
Carol Nolan warned that ordinary people's anger and frustration will rise over the winter as gas and electricity prices approach the level of a second mortgage. She said social housing tenants fear not being able to pay rent and older people are being 'terrified into darkness and cold' by soaring energy bills.
Criticism of renewables policy
Nolan accused the government of a 'forced march' towards reliance on renewable sources without proper alternative systems, calling this approach one of the most despicable acts of political negligence and contempt she has witnessed. She said the policy choices have been largely responsible for the current crisis in access to affordable heating.
Supplier exits and market impact
She noted that energy suppliers are leaving the market due to unsustainable costs, citing Panda Power's announcement that it will exit the Irish market as the fourth supplier to do so. Nolan warned this will force tens of thousands of customers onto higher tariffs at a time of already exorbitant costs.
Political accountability and tone
Nolan blamed the minister for ignoring warnings and accused the Greens, along with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, of refusing to acknowledge the policy's failures. She said the government's recklessness and mismanagement have condemned people to a drop in living standards not seen in 40 years and told her opponents they should 'hang your heads in shame.'
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Minister, the only temperature that we can safely say will be rising over the winter months is the temperature of ordinary people's anger and frustration. That anger has already reached boiling point in many locations throughout the world, as people see the collapse in access to affordable heating and energy supplies. Gas and electricity prices are fast reaching the stage of becoming the equivalent of a second mortgage payment. Social housing tenants are living in dread of not being able to pay their rent, and older people are being terrified into darkness and cold because of the sheer and utter largely imposed crisis that our own energy policies have created. The forced march towards reliance on renewable sources of energy without a proper system of alternatives in place represents to my mind one of the most despicable acts of political negligence and contempt that I have ever witnessed towards the lives and businesses of ordinary people. Energy suppliers are leaving the market due to unsustainable costs. We saw only yesterday the announcement by Panda Power that it will be exiting the Irish market, the fourth supplier to do so. This will lump tens of thousands of customers onto higher tariffs at a time of already exorbitant costs. Minister Rhine has been going around like some kind of political ostrich with his head in the sand. The Greens, with their spineless allies in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, have put their hands to their ears like little children. When everyone, with an ounce of cop-on and objectivity, was pointing out the sheer stupidity of the current approach to energy policy. All three government parties, through recklessness and mismanagement, have condemned our people to a drop in living standards, not seen in 40 years. I would say to you all that you should hang your heads in shame. Deputy Danny Heaton.
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