Windfall Tax on the Excess Profits of Energy Companies: Motion [Private Members] Dail Éireann — 2026-09-30 ============================================================ Christopher O'Sullivan (FF), Cork South-West I thank Deputies for raising these important matters and I welcome the opportunity to discuss the pressures households are facing as a result of high energy costs. As has been clearly articulated by the International Energy Agency, this is a global problem which is causing significant price increases and disruption across the world. The Government is taking action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy, and it has been proactive in introducing support measures on fossil fuel costs and supports for the transport, farming and fisheries sectors. This is in addition to the range of measures in budget 2026 aimed at helping households with energy costs, which included extending the reduced VAT rate on gas and electricity; enhanced social protection payments; and record funding for SEAI retrofit schemes. As outlined, there has been significant funding made available for retrofit schemes, and there has been an increased number of applications. The benefit of even simple upgrades like attic insulation and cavity wall or external wall insulation cannot be dismissed. They can improve the warmth and comfort of the home, while reducing energy costs at the same time. Yesterday, Government approval was granted to expand the range of supports we offer to households. These are new storage grants, which are now available, as well as easier pathways for warmer homes and households in RAS tenancies to access retrofitting supports. Every single one of these changes is designed to make it easier for more households to access retrofitting measures. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has engaged with energy suppliers and the energy regulator to ensure consumers, particularly vulnerable customers, are protected. The CRU has a wide range of protections in place for customers experiencing difficulties in paying their bills. Each year, the CRU carries out the a on effectiveness of customer protection measures over the past winter as well as deciding the measures to be retained for the forthcoming winter. Some of the key measures that remained in place in recent years included a disconnection moratorium, reduced debt repayments and discounted tariffs for customers on financial hardship meters. The CRU will publish measures in the coming weeks ahead of this winter. Anyone who is struggling with their bill is strongly encouraged to engage with their supplier. Suppliers will not disconnect customers who engage with them. It is also important to note that switching supplier or plan could save the average electricity customer hundreds of euro on annual electricity bills, and I strongly encourage consumers to seek out the best prices available. With regard to high energy prices, there are structural factors that are relevant. Ireland is import-dependent for energy, making it particularly vulnerable for price volatility in the wholesale gas market. Ireland's isolated island location, low levels of interconnection, widely dispersed low density population and reliance on fossil fuels are also important price determinants. Energy is central to every social and economic activity in Ireland but we remain too dependent on imported fossil fuels. The energy crisis caused by the conflict in the Middle East highlights that we must reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels and develop our own energy security and strength. As an island nation with limited fossil fuel reserves, this means developing our own abundant renewable energy resources and deepening our interconnection with trusted European peers. The national energy affordability task force has been established by Government 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. The first report of the task force published last November set out measures for consideration in the budget 2026 process. The task force is working intensively on an energy affordability action plan which will be submitted to Government in the coming weeks. The energy affordability action plan includes the identification of measures such as a market revenue cap, which in a previous form was based on the 2022 EU Council Regulation 2022/1854, while recognising we have not experienced the extreme price escalation that followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine and our EU partners have not introduced either a market revenue cap or a temporary solidarity contribution. Ireland will engage constructively on the development of proposals from the Commission on a potential EU-wide windfall tax or levy if such proposals are brought forward. Governments across Europe are rightly attentive to developments in energy markets and their impact on households, businesses and the wider economy. The topic of windfall taxes was discussed by ministers at the recent informal ECOFIN meeting in Dublin. The Commission took note of the discussions and was asked to report back to ministers at the October meeting. The Government will continue to actively monitor the current geopolitical situation and the impact on energy markets and remains ready to respond as circumstances evolve. The best long-term approach for Ireland to insulate consumers from volatility on international wholesale energy markets is to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Cutting our dependence on fossil fuels and generating power from our renewable energy sources will ensure a cleaner, cheaper energy future in the longer term. There has been a lot of constructive debate around solar in particular. I know the Social Democrats, and Deputy Whitmore in particular, are quite passionate about it. Solar is a key aspect of how we can reduce emissions, reduce costs for households and help business to survive. I will touch on the challenge the farming sector in particular has experienced in relation to access to the TAMS grant. Thousands of farmers across Ireland are more than willing to put rooftop solar on their farm buildings with the intention of reducing their emissions, but just as important for them is reducing the costs of farming and doing business. This was a clear feature over the summer and many farmer lobby groups want greater access to solar for farmers. I would of course love to see it in budget 2027. Apparently, around 90% of farmers who sought TAMS support to install solar on their rooftops were turned down. That needs to be investigated for our farming sector, which plays such a key role in food security, rural business and keeping rural economies going. Clearly, they want to play their part. I wanted to make that comment because solar featured prominently in a lot of the contributions. I thank Deputies from across the House for their contributions. However, I do not accept the motion and I push the Government's countermotion in its place. --- 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/dail/2026-09-30/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-09-30