The rip-off legacy of this Government continues unabated. Last week, Eurostat reported what we already knew, namely, that Ireland has the highest electricity prices in the European Union. This is under the watch of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, sponsored by the Independents. In Ireland, we are paying nearly €500 more per year than our fellow European citizens. At the same time, many of my constituents in north Kildare face constant blackouts from a grid that is simply not fit for purpose. Ordinary workers and families are being fleeced by energy companies making eye-watering profits. What is the Government doing to address the issue? Absolutely nothing. What should we expect it to do? Its reputation as a do-nothing Government precedes it. On the other hand, Sinn Féin has offered solutions but the Government has refused to listen. The Bill before us tonight could drastically reduce the cost of electricity bills for people now and into the future. It would empower the CRU to monitor the hedging practices of these companies and sanction anti-competitive behaviour if energy companies are profiteering from a crisis. This is something the Government could do immediately. This would provide the regulator with real teeth to enforce laws that would protect households. The regulator wants these teeth but it seems the Government would rather protect data centres than households. This was most obvious in Castlebaggot in west Dublin last year when a data centre was given a connection priority over an ESB Networks substation that was meant to be connected to new houses. It is first come, first served, but we all know who Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael serve. That one data centre consumes enough energy to power 200,000 homes per year, yet they are not paying their fair share when it comes to electricity bills. The Government gives them a sweetheart deal while it shafts ordinary families and workers with the highest prices in Europe. These sky-high prices are not inevitable, as the Government continues to suggest. They are a political choice. The choice we have given the Minister tonight is a simple question: whose side is he on?

Sentiment score: 0.09