Michelle Devane, PA
Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has ruled out introducing price caps on energy charges this winter.
The Green Party leader accused Sinn Féin of “following a Tory government approach”, adding that the approach was not the right one.
He also said that people will not have to go without light and heat this winter.
Mr Ryan made the remarks in the Dáil in response to Donegal TD Pearse Doherty calling on the Government to cut electricity prices to pre-crisis levels to help families with rising energy costs.
Mr Doherty said people across the country were afraid because they do not know what is “coming down the road”.
He said: “It’s easy to see why people are afraid. It’s so simple. Just look at what they’re facing: rents are going up, food is going up, energy going up, and the fear is especially real when it comes to the extortionate electricty bills that households face.”
Mr Doherty added that people were “absolutely outraged” when they see the “scandalous hikes” in standing charges by “big profiteering energy companies”.
“The government needs to act decisively,” he said.
“You need to cut electricity prices back to pre-crisis levels and kept them at that level to help get families through this winter.”
In response, Mr Ryan said he did not believe Sinn Féin’s plan was the right one.
“It is very similar to what the Tory party are looking to do,” Mr Ryan said.
Keynote address from @EamonRyan - assuring the room the political commitment to energy security and decarbonisation is rock solid #WEIOff22 pic.twitter.com/zKIClpnCTo
— Wind Energy Ireland (@WindEnergyIRL) September 21, 2022
“In fact, Jacob Rees-Mogg this morning set out pretty much the same policy for Northern Ireland.
“You’re following a Tory government approach. I don’t agree with it,” Mr Ryan said.
“The first problem is that it would actually benefit the better-off, who tend to use more energy, who tend to have the bigger houses and who tend to have the biggest bills.
“They would benefit most from the approach that you’re suggesting.
“Secondly, as in the Tory party approach, it would benefit the energy industry.
“That is something we don’t need to do at this time.
“What we need to do is to apply windfall charges and actually give that money back to our people rather than providing a cap and a free pass in any amount after that.”
He added that the government would be introducing a range of measures and supports to help households and businesses with rising costs, including energy credits.
Addressing Mr Ryan’s Tory comments, Mr Doherty claimed the Minister had “Tories on the brain”, and that “maybe that’s because you’re in bed with the Irish Tories here”.
The Sinn Féin TD described a price cap for Ireland “as the right choice” because people need certainty.
He said other European countries had introduced caps on energy prices in response to the crisis.
“People living in Newry, people living in Strabane, will have certainty in terms of their bills, so will they in Austria in France and Croatia and Poland and Romania.
“And in the last 48 hours the Netherlands has announced it, Denmark has announced it and the Minister of Slovakia has announced that they’re going to bring in price certainty for customers.
“Why? Because this is part of the European toolbox.”
He added: “Your government is asleep and doesn’t recognise the pressures that families are under.”
