"Dáil Should Sit Beyond Thursday To Pass Legislation For €100 Energy Subsidy"- TD

Tuesday, 14 December 2021 10:51

By Caoimhe Harney

Solidarity TD Mick Barry says legislation needs to be passed before Christmas.

Solidarity TD Mick Barry will propose in the Dáil today that legislation to allow the €100 subsidy on household energy bills should be passed before Christmas and that the Dáil should sit beyond Thursday if it is necessary to do this.

His proposal comes in the wake of indications that the subsidies won't kick in until March or April given that the Government won't have the necessary legislation in place until the New Year.

Deputy Barry will raise the proposal in today's Order Of Business Dáil debate.

The Cork North Central deputy will also argue that the €100 subsidy will only cover a quarter of expected household energy cost increases this winter and needs to be set at a higher rate.

He said that the cost of a higher subsidy should be covered by a levy on the big energy companies, pointing out that the ESB alone made pre-tax profits of €363m in the first six months of 2021 alone.

Deputy Barry said: "Hard pressed households should not have to wait until March or April to get their energy subsidy. If the Dáil has to meet a couple of extra days before Christmas to pass the legislation rather than waiting til the New Year then so be it. There also needs to be a debate on the size of the subsidy.

"One hundred euros strikes me as being very much on the low side when bills will shoot up €400 this winter and energy companies like the ESB, who made profits of more than €350m in the first six months this year alone, are not being asked to make any contribution at all, " insisted Barry.

So far this year it is estimated that households have faced no less than 35 energy price increases.

Deputy Barry said that he will be keeping a close eye on the proposed Government legislation to ensure that it also covers households who pay for electricity on a pay as you go basis.