Govt siding with corporate interests over struggling households as energy prices bite
Govt siding with corporate interests over struggling households as energy prices bite - The Labour Party
Labour’s energy spokesperson Ciaran Ahern TD has called for support of Labour’s motion to introduce a moratorium on the building of data centres, to be debated in the Dáil next Wednesday.
Responding to ESRI data highlighting that low-income households are hit disproportionately with energy price hikes, Deputy Ahern said people were deserted by Government at the last Budget.
Deputy Ahern said:
“The ESRI findings confirm precisely what families have been telling us for years. High energy costs continue to explode and drive up the already high cost of living in Ireland.
“Our failure to invest strategically in renewable energy, and our failure to consider the impact of data centre use on energy supply, means Ireland is uniquely exposed to the volatile international fossil fuel market.
“In Budget 2026, families were abandoned by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Energy credits, which were a lifeline to so many families, were done away with overnight.
“Again in May, the Labour Party was the only party to bring forward a mini-Budget on the floor of the Dáil which would have provided €400 energy credits to the households that need it most.
“Of course, this is not a panacea but as today’s research proves, it would bridge the gap for many families. Particularly as the CRU tells us that over 500,000 cannot afford to pay their energy bills.
“On Wednesday, the Labour Party will bring forward a Dáil motion to call out this Government’s inaction on energy progress, including a call for a moratorium on data centres. The best protection for families against rising energy prices is investment in renewable energy, a modern electricity grid and targeted measures to help households reduce their bills.
“Government cannot continue to leave ordinary working people to the whims of the international energy market. We must see renewed focus and investment in building Ireland’s renewable energy capacity.”