While energy giants protect massive profits, ordinary people are sitting at kitchen tables terrified to open another bill. Sinn Féin has repeatedly warned about profiteering, weak oversight and consumers being left completely exposed, all while 23% of our electricity goes to feed data centres in circumstances where the EU average in that regard is just 2%. The State will continue to lurch from one crisis to the next unless action is taken to reform how we approach our energy. The CRU must given expanded powers to allow it to monitor wholesale and retail pricing, investigate anti-competitiveness, oversee hedging practice and examine affordability. We need to end the wall of complexity and secrecy because consumers are expected to continually suck up price hikes. In one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, no family should have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children. This situation was created by years of weak regulation, market failure and political choices that prioritised energy companies over ordinary citizens. Across Ireland today, there are parents skipping meals in order that electricity meters stay running. Pensioners are sitting in the cold afraid to turn on their heaters. Workers are falling deeper into debt despite doing everything that is asked of them. The Minister said that this Bill is premature. In that context, how many people must be in energy debt before Government finally acts? We continue to have electricity prices among the highest in Europe. That is neither normal nor acceptable. Sinn Féin will never accept a system where energy companies thrive while families struggle to survive. We need stronger consumer protection, real accountability and long-term investment in affordable public energy infrastructure. Above all, we need a Government that is willing to stand with ordinary people instead of standing back while prices spiral out of control.

Sentiment score: -0.08