Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has slammed the government for failing to support families 'stretched to breaking point' as a result of soaring energy bills or to face down 'obscene' profits of energy companies.
He was speaking during a Dáil debate on a Sinn Féin motion which called on government to introduce a windfall tax on energy companies. Deputy Carthy is calling on Government to reduce and cap electricity prices, reverse the carbon tax increase and introduce new powers for the Commission on Regulation of Utilities to stop price gouging by energy companies.
He added that Irish families were already stretched to breaking point, with Ireland having some of the highest rents, mortgage interest rates, insurance costs and fuel prices in Europe. "The geniuses that make up this current Government have managed to oversee a new record.
"We are now paying the highest electricity prices in Europe. There was a time when we were almost the lowest. The truth is that Minister Ryan and his Cabinet colleagues have not had the guts or the inclination to face down the energy companies.
"My fear and belief is that there are some within Government who are quite happy to see Irish customers being fleeced when it comes to high energy costs," Deputy Carthy said.
