My question today is about the significant energy cost pressures that many have felt in recent months and the impact that has in particular on SMEs across the country. What measures is the Department taking to acknowledge the increased energy costs on businesses? Will the Minister of State make a statement in that regard?

Sentiment score: 0.22

As part of the engagement at the climate committee - Deputy Pa Daly will attest to this - we had representatives of the business sector in talking about the barriers they face in transitioning and achieving climate targets. One of the points they raised was how little consideration is given to cost proofing of climate plans and transition measures to get across to a low-carbon environment, particularly for SMEs. They mentioned low visibility of costs for all the different plans and the affordability of the energy transition. They said they have difficulty when looking ten years down the line to see where their companies are going in terms of getting to a kind of low-carbon future. It is really important that the Government and the Department are very aware of that. They need to be aware that for businesses in particular, it is a challenge to get across that bridge. The Minister of State already mentioned the energy affordability task force. Is there a particular focus within that task force on SMEs, energy costs for business and priority measures? I accept the broader point about society at large, but I ask specifically about measures for SMEs that could be covered off.

Sentiment score: 0.14

I agree with that. The committee also looked at energy affordability in December. Interestingly enough, the ESRI was of the view that there was not a particular issue with price gouging because if there was, you would expect to see a lot of new market entrants into the Irish energy market if there was a lot of profit to be made. It did not seem to see that. It was an interesting observation from the ESRI at the time. Once again, I encourage a very sharp focus on the costs of the energy transition for small businesses in particular. The more we can do around bringing down those costs in the long term and keeping them down - for energy-intensive businesses in particular - the better. It is in everybody's interests to transition across for that kind of carbon-free future.

Sentiment score: 0.39