Energy and Fuel Costs: Motion Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-29 ============================================================ Garret Kelleher (FG), Industrial and Commercial Panel Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Richmond, as teacht isteach chun páirt a ghlacadh sa díospóireacht. Tá sé tábhachtach a rá gurb é seo an ghéarchéim is deacra ó thaobh fuinnimh de atá feicthe i stair an domhain. Níl a leithéid feicthe againn le blianta anuas. Dá bharr sin, tá formhór na ndeacrachtaí atá againn ag teacht ó chomhthéacs idirnáisiúnta. Nílim ag iarraidh éalú ó na freagrachtaí atá againn mar pholaiteoirí agus mar Rialtas ach is tábhachtach an méid sin a rá. At the outset, I will make what may be an obvious point to many. The energy crisis we are experiencing at the moment is primarily caused by international conflict and the escalation in prices that has resulted from the supply issues we are experiencing with oil, petrol and gas throughout the world. I do not seek to abdicate our responsibility or to make excuses; it is just a fact. Looking at the progress that Ireland has made and the measures that have been introduced since this crisis reached a peak in March and April of this year, it is interesting to compare where we stand to our international partners, particularly in the EU. Back in March of this year, when preparing for a debate on the same subject, I did an analysis of petrol and diesel prices throughout the EU 27. At the time, Ireland was ninth on the list of the EU 27. I compiled the list by simply looking at the price per litre of petrol and diesel and adding them together to come to an aggregate figure. There were obviously variations between countries. In some, petrol prices were higher and, in others, diesel prices were higher. At the time, Ireland came in ninth. Conducting a similar analysis today of the EU 27, again looking at aggregate prices, Ireland ranks 14th. The measures that have been introduced are having an effect. It is also worth pointing out that, of the 27 EU countries, 25 have seen an increase in the combined price of a litre each of petrol and diesel while two have not. Those two are Sweden and Ireland. I make that point not to deflect from the challenges that are being faced. We acknowledge that the challenges are difficult. They are challenges being felt by households throughout the country. However, it shows that the measures that the Irish Government has taken since the crisis reached its peak are having an effect. We look forward to seeing further measures that will help alleviate concerns in next month's budget. The analysis I am just after making reference to does not make reference whatsoever to home heating oil. However, it is important to acknowledge it because there is a little bit of misinformation out there in relation to calls on Government to do measures A, B, and C. With regard to home heating oil, the Government cannot because of commitments made at EU level to reduce the rate of VAT on home heating oil below the current 13.5%. That is not to say those who are experiencing difficulty in that regard do not require support. That is why we have the fuel allowance, the extension of the winter heating season by four weeks, which is an important measure, and the warmer homes scheme, as alluded to by Senator Duffy at the outset of this debate. I am making these points not to deflate or abdicate responsibility, as I said at the start, but rather to say that in the teeth of an international crisis we are taking measures. Those measures are having an effect. I am not going to stand here today and pretend everything is rosy in the garden because of that. However, as referenced by Senator Byrne in his contribution early in this debate, because of prudent management of the country's finances, we are in a position to provide supports to people who most need these supports. That is because of the efforts of people like Paschal Donohoe, Michael McGrath and, more recently, Simon Harris since he has taken over as Minister for Finance. I welcome this afternoon's motion. I think progress is being made. We are not blind to the challenges the country is facing, and I look forward to further support measures in next month's budget and beyond. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-29/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-09-29