7. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered tax policy measures to reduce the cost of electricity relative to fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28216/25]

Sentiment score: 0.01

As the Minister knows, households are paying a staggering €350, or 30%, more than the European average on their energy bills. During the election last November, the Government claimed it was going to cut energy costs to bring relief to households in a cost-of-living crisis. Instead, it is going to rip away supports. The Minister himself said that energy payments could not become the norm. Does he believe that Ireland's extortionate energy costs are normal? That is my first question to him.

Sentiment score: 0.16

During the winter in particular, I am contacted in the constituency office by people who feel that the situation is out of control. These are people who are paying their children's allowance against their rent and are forced to chose between heating, eating and paying their mortgage. The transition to renewables, which the Government is pushing, should not mean people are paying extortionate energy bills. The Government's approach, which the Minister has referred to as accelerating decarbonisation, places a disproportionate share of the burden for transition on households through the PSO levy. Rather than trying to bring the price of electricity down, the Government is continuing to push prices upwards by adding more costs. In other countries, like Germany, progressive general taxation is used to reduce the cost of electricity alongside efforts to redistribute the PSO levy fairly by making the larger energy users, such as data centres, pay a fair share. That could make a real difference to ordinary people. The Minister said that the Government's approach would accelerate the decarbonisation. I do not believe that is the case. It is unlikely because, for people on low incomes, it is a double punishment. It is not a just transition.

Sentiment score: -0.02

Of course we should be pushing towards renewable energy but it is the way that the PSO levy is disproportionately put on low- and middle-income earners that is the problem. It is unfair and unlikely to accelerate decarbonisation in the households we go to where they have solid fuel at the front of their houses and are reliant on it. Regarding electricity, the additional costs on household bills should instead be placed on the larger emitters. I do not see how the Minister can possibly disagree with that. Regarding gas and home heating oil, I refer to halting the carbon tax increases and reversing the past two years of carbon taxes. The Minister believes these taxes will accelerate decarbonisation. I believe they will not with ordinary poorer people who are reliant on solid fuels. I am asking the Government to address energy affordability by reviewing the way it is tackling it, including the PSO levy and the network charges. I hope that will have the support of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and, if they turn up, the regional Independents, if they continue to support the Government.

Sentiment score: 0.00

Can they afford to change to renewables?

Sentiment score: 0.00

We believe there should not be any more carbon taxes on the people. The Minister is naive if he thinks those people-----

Sentiment score: -0.14

They cannot afford to push to renewable energy.

Sentiment score: 0.27

Does the Minister think the larger users are paying their fair share?

Sentiment score: 0.54