I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that, the Government: - remains deeply concerned about the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf; - affirms Ireland's long track-record of support for international law and the United Nations; - continues to seek de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy so that these issues can be resolved; - is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in fuel prices, and is actively monitoring the current geopolitical situation and developments in energy markets; - affirms that energy affordability is a priority, and highlights that successive Budgets have provided targeted support to help households with cost-of-living pressures; and - remains committed to decarbonising our society, increasing investment in renewable energy sources, and using revenues raised to protect those most vulnerable to fuel poverty through targeted welfare interventions; affirms that: - the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, with Department of Finance officials, is monitoring international and national developments in fuel markets, alongside the latest macro-economic impacts; - the Government is working to calibrate an appropriate response, to be brought forward in the coming days, to ease the burden on affected households; and - engagement at European Union level is continuing, including at a meeting of the European Council this week; recalls that: - Carbon Tax revenues are ring-fenced for climate action and just transition measures; - Budget 2026 provided over €1.1 billion in advancement of these goals, with €350 million of those funds allocated to targeted social protection interventions; - Budget 2026 extended the 9 per cent Value Added Tax rate for gas and electricity until the end of 2030; - Budget 2026 increased the weekly Fuel Allowance payment by €5; and - Budget 2026 broadened the Fuel Allowance eligibility, such that an additional 50,000 working families will now be eligible for this allowance; and further notes that: - Ireland operates an open market economy, which generally means businesses are permitted to set and change their own prices, however, any behaviour that breaches consumer protection or competition law falls within the remit of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and will be investigated and enforced accordingly; - the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has initiated the process of further strengthening the powers of the CCPC in both its consumer protection and competition functions; - the Government's Climate Action Plan commits to halving emissions by 2030, and reaching net zero no later than 2050; - in the long run, the best way to protect Ireland from the impact of international fossil fuel prices is to reduce our dependence on them; - Ireland is undergoing a renewables-led energy transformation, electricity generation from renewables has increased fivefold since 2005, and the milestone of over 2 gigawatts of installed solar capacity was achieved in November; - offshore wind capacity is also being prioritised, with the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien TD, announcing the acceleration of the National Designated Maritime Area Plan for offshore renewable energy, which will identify sites for additional renewable energy development, and €3.15 billion of the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is being provided to help achieve carbon reductions, particularly environmental and nature objectives, and this includes funding to the Department of Transport to support low-carbon transportation, and €500 million to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, to support climate mitigation and renewable energy development; - home retrofitting is scaling up, with supports improving to bring more people in, especially those at risk of fuel poverty; - analysis undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute, using the Simulating Welfare, Income Tax, Childcare and Health (SWITCH) tax and benefit model, to simulate the impact of the carbon tax and the compensatory welfare package, estimates that the net impact of the combined measures is progressive and half of households are better off due to the measures part-funded by carbon tax funds, with households in the bottom four income deciles benefitting the most; and - the National Energy Affordability Taskforce has been established to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability, and the Interim Report of the Taskforce was published last November, with an Action Plan for Energy Affordability to be published in Q3 of this year.". I welcome the opportunity to address the House this evening on an issue that is weighing heavily on households, businesses and families right across the country. It is right that we are debating this issue tonight and examining solutions that can be found. That issue, of course, is the rising cost of energy and fuel prices driven, as we all know, by the global uncertainty caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf. Let me say at the outset, the priority in all our work, all our commentary and in all our interventions should be to seek an immediate de-escalation. I think that is a view shared across this House. De-escalation is important for humanitarian needs, but also because, from an economic point of view, it would lead to the greatest level of certainty. While de-escalation is the priority for Ireland and for all EU member states, the Irish Government is actively preparing for a variety of economic scenarios. This Government understands the pressures that families and businesses are under. They are feeling it at the pumps, where the cost of filling a car has risen considerably in the space of just over a fortnight, and they are seeing it in the cost of a fill of oil. Successive Governments that I have had the privilege of serving in have responded to a variety of global crises, whether that was during times of pandemic or after Russia's brutal illegal invasion of Ukraine. Today, as one would expect, I have spoken further with the Taoiseach. I have also engaged with relevant Ministers and I have had further briefings with my own economic team in the Department of Finance. This evening I want to confirm to this House that we are now finalising what we believe to be an appropriate intervention for the areas in which there is most acute pressure and challenge. The Government's response will be formalised and agreed at the next Cabinet meeting. Considering the level of significant international volatility, I strongly believe that any intervention should, in the first instance, be for a short period of time. This is to fulfil two objectives. First, to enable the assistance to be applied quickly. Second, to provide the Government with the time and the space to adapt our response should this fast moving and evolving situation require it. I do not believe there is anyone on any side of this House who can speak with great certainty about where the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region will go and indeed the true scale of the medium term economic consequences of an enduring conflict. The volatility is that acute. Since the outbreak of this conflict, I have been engaging extensively with European counterparts. What is clear from all my conversations and meetings is the need to avoid knee-jerk responses, but instead to focus on informed, sensible and proportionate measures. It is important to remind the House tonight that the Government has already taken a number of actions on energy, the benefits of which are already in place. We extended the lower 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity to the end of the decade. We have increased the weekly fuel allowance, which remains in place. Last week we expanded eligibility to 50,000 more homes, who will now receive for the very first time the fuel allowance, with the payment backdated to 1 January. This means a back payment of €380 for so many, that is already in people's pockets. These are practical supports designed to ease pressure and to provide some certainty in very uncertain times. The crisis also reminds us of something deeper. Ireland and the European Union remain exposed to fossil fuel price shocks. As long as we rely on imported fossil fuels, events far away, far beyond our shores, and decisions taken far away will continue to impact in a real way on households and businesses across Europe. This is not a sustainable position, and it is not a secure position. The only lasting answer is to reduce that dependence. That means accelerating our transition to renewable energy, improving efficiency and building a system that is more resilient and more within our own control. That is about stability, security and protecting Irish people from future shocks like the one we are experiencing today. Let me address this point clearly. Future carbon tax increases are not the cause of the current spike in energy prices. We need to be truthful about that. The evidence shows that what we are seeing now is overwhelmingly driven by global events. Stepping away from our long-term approach would not shield households from those global forces. What it would do, however, is delay the transition that ultimately gives greater control over our energy future. When people adopt a simplistic approach to this issue, they are forgetting that 58,000 households benefited from home energy upgrades last year alone. The Government will act at this moment of great uncertainty. We will act, but we will act responsibly. We will work across this House. We are also clear that fairness must be at the centre of that response. Where there is evidence of unfair pricing or behaviour not in line with consumer law, it must be investigated and it must be acted upon. This Oireachtas should be willing to further strengthen laws in this area. The Government is certainly up for that. People need to have confidence that they are being treated fairly and that no one is engaging in opportunistic pricing at a time like this. Before I conclude, it would be remiss of me not to recognise our Defence Forces and the diplomatic corps who are working in the region for the protection of Irish people and also for the protection of Lebanese citizens. At a time of such conflict and turmoil - we are considering the economic part of that this evening - the women and men of Óglaigh na hÉireann are truly carrying out the world's most important work, that is, the work of peace. In closing, I want to assure this House and, most importantly, the Irish people that this Government will act in a matter that is fair and responsible. We will conclude our proposals in the coming days.
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It will be quicker than any legislation Sinn Féin is bringing forward which is not before this-----
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Cathaoirleach, may I speak on a very important issue? I want to work in a collaborative fashion. I do not need to be shouted down. It is an important issue, Deputy Doherty.
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We will act-----
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Please, Pearse, on some occasions just park the partisanship, just the odd time. We will act.
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There will be decisions taken by this Government before this Sinn Féin motion even arises for a vote.
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There is no vote tonight.
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There is no vote tonight-----
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-----and there is no legislation. A number of Sinn Féin TDs have said-----
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A number of Sinn Féin TDs have said there is legislation before the House tonight. There is no law. For people watching, there is no Sinn Féin law before this House tonight. There is a motion. The motion brings forward-----
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I am aware.
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There is no legislation.
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A Chathaoirleach Gníomhach, I am sorry but-----
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You did.
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For the benefit of Deputy Doherty's hearing, we have already said very clearly this evening that we will act. I have already said the Government will act in a responsible manner.
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I have already said the Government will take that decision at the next Cabinet meeting and I have already said that would be before the final vote on the Sinn Féin motion. That is what I have said. Not everything has to be partisan. Not everything has to be shouting and noise. As I heard the Sinn Féin First Minister of Northern Ireland say today, maybe a little less noise and more working together. I think that is sage advice from Sinn Féin on this occasion too. Maybe let us apply it to here and not take a partitionist approach. We will act in a fair manner. We will act in a responsible manner. We will conclude that work in the coming days. We are living in times of great uncertainty, but I am pleased to say that our economy is resilient. We do approach this moment from a position of relative strength. It is a moment that is causing real anxiety for people. I want people to know we approach this from a moment of relative strength. More people are in work than ever before. We have buoyant public and private sector investment in our country. Real incomes are continuing to rise for the first time in a while and there is a medium-term fiscal plan that will safeguard our economic future and that of our people. We know this is a difficult time. We know the pressure that families and businesses are under. We are supporting them and we will continue to support them.
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We are going to it. We are going to.
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Thank God for Sinn Féin. We would be lost without you.
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I have identified when.
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I know you have, but it is not today.
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No, no.
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It matters.
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There are 91-year-olds in the North too.
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We will do something.
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Hear hear.
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