Darragh O'Brien
Dublin Fingal East · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The appropriate next time to do that is once the ANCA decision is finalised and the public consultation is concluded, which will be on 3 September. Obviously, there will be a period required after that when the submissions to ANCA will be looked at. That is where the consultation is. That will happen over the coming months.”
“I have already mentioned the more than 3 million passengers who flew through Cork Airport and the growth of Shannon Airport, which has just had its best half a year and which now has over 40 routes. However, a small number of people are impacted and they need to be listened to.”
“Others did not want it at all. I think Shane Ross was Minister for transport at the time. That has been done. That is in place. This decision will be made. I do not have a timeframe. Hopefully it will be soon after the submissions from the public on the draft noise decision is made. That would feed into both.”
“An Investec report published in, I believe, 2022 said that to maintain the cap at 32 million between now and 2030 would jeopardise up to about 19,000 jobs. That is the reality of it. I support the workers in the airport. I am from the community myself. The airport has to grow in a sustainable way.”
“I have also made it clear that even though, and this is a fact, international aviation emissions are outside the scope of the climate action plan, we are taking actions aligned with the global approach to decarbonisation of the aviation industry, which is based on the International Civil Aviation Organization's basket of measures to ensur…”
“I have already highlighted the planning decision on the DAA’s infrastructure application. We discussed that at some length over the course of the last nearly two hours. That application seeks to raise the passenger cap to 40 million and provide for much-needed additional infrastructure at Dublin Airport.”
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“The investment also has huge importance for our economy and will be key to ensuring that the State can increase the critical infrastructure that is needed for continued economic growth and employment in our economy, underpinning the national development plan, the review of which we have just concluded. It will underpin projects like MetroLink, which Senator Clifford-Lee and I both know to be critically important, and others right across the country. However, the scale of the increase means that both companies will need financial support to deliver the ambitious investment programmes. In July of this year, as part of the NDP, the Government agreed an investment of up to €3.5 billion in additional equity to support the PR6 grid investment programme. This represents the largest single investment ever made in Ireland's electricity network.”
“Really importantly, extending and reinforcing the grid will also accelerate the connection of new sources of renewable electricity, which will contribute to Ireland's transition to greater levels of renewable energy and the achievement of our climate goals. Last year, in 2024, 41% of our electricity was generated by renewables. If you go back 20 years, it was only 7%. Ireland is a European leader on the integration of renewables into our grid. This grid investment will allow us to expand and accelerate that further. We have a target of 80% renewable energy by the end of the decade. This investment will help to underpin that.”
“They include improving the resilience of our grid system, which is absolutely critical, and future-proofing it for generations to come. It will ensure that every home and every business has a reliable and secure source of electricity, including the 300,000 new homes we have committed to build by the end of this decade. It will safeguard against damage from future weather events and storms. We saw the impact of that with Storm Éowyn. While not quite unprecedented, it was the most severe storm event we have seen. Some 768,000 households and premises were left without power due to that storm. The resilience of our grid is absolutely critical. That is why this investment is critical.”
“That shows the significance of the investment the Government is committing to and how essential it is that this is done. The level of investment being considered marks a real step change in delivery. We expect a final decision on it next month. We will more than double the investment made under the previous investment programme, PR5. This unprecedented package of investment will enable the network companies to support Ireland through this period of change in terms of our use and demand for electricity. It will support key priorities in infrastructure and housing. It will help with competitiveness and help to drive investment and growth. Really importantly, it will help us to continue to decarbonise and to meet our climate targets and objectives. The benefits of extending and reinforcing the grid are many.”
“The International Energy Agency, IEA, has advised that expanding and modernising electricity grids is essential for a secure, affordable and sustainable electricity system. However, it has expressed concern that investment in grids globally is falling and is failing to keep pace with spending on generation and electrification. In Ireland, every five years, our network companies, ESB Networks and EirGrid, present their five-year forecast investment plans to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, which then approves the revenues allowable for their operating and investment programmes. CRU published its draft determination for the next price review, PR6, in July of this year. An overall network expenditure programme of anywhere between €14.1 billion and €18.1 billion is being considered for the remainder of this decade.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I thank you and your colleagues for the opportunity to come before the Seanad. I am pleased to address the House on the Second Stage of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill 2025. The Bill before the House today will provide the legal mechanism for the payment of €1.5 billion of equity investment in the ESB as committed to by the Government under the national development plan. I will open the debate by setting out the broader context for why Government equity investment is required, before outlining the detail within the Bill itself. As Senators will be aware, lreland's electricity demand will grow significantly over the upcoming decade. It is estimated that electricity demand will double by 2035, and this is in addition to the 25% growth that we have already seen over the past ten years.”
“I cannot give an exact timeframe but work is advanced and nearing completion in that regard. I will respond to the Deputy directly after I consult the Minister, Deputy Browne.”
“We are working on them. This has been ongoing for a number of years but since 2023, consultants have been appointed. It is being screened. We are doing a specific piece of work on noise. That is in my Department. We work with the lead Department in relation to the publication of the draft guidelines. This is not passing the buck; it is just a fact that the lead Department is the Department of housing and local government. We are working in conjunction with it. Once the draft guidelines are published, they will be published for public consultation. I want to see an expansion of renewables, which we are seeing, and expansion of wind energy, solar, utilising biomethane and AD and other forms of renewable energy. For clarity's sake and for communities, the guidelines are being updated, need to be updated and will be published in draft form.”
“That is why the main work of the affordability task force will continue through the course of this year to look at network charges and a regulatory framework. We also need work at European level in relation to the construct of the European market for electricity and how the Spark app in particular is dealt with. That is a discussion I am having at a European level.”
“I know the Deputy was at a committee meeting, but I have given some quite substantial responses with regard to energy affordability this morning. The interim report has been published now. The Deputy rightly said that we have actually taken measures in the budget, such as the permanent reduction to 9% VAT, the increase in the fuel allowance and the expansion of the fuel allowance to the working family payment. We are talking about another 50,000 households in that space. I met with the four main energy companies directly. At my request, they have established hardship funds across those providers for the winter months and I am grateful that they have. Energy affordability remains a challenge and a priority for the Government.”
“That European directive was transposed in relation to that. We are not permitted, and rightly so, to provide grant aid for fossil fuel boilers. There are other options, however, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO, and other things at which we are looking. We are looking at some supports within that space. We are moving away from fossil fuel boilers. We are doing well as a country with regard to energy generation through renewables. As I said, it was over 41% last year. However, particularly, although not exclusively, in rural areas, there is a preponderance of both oil and gas boilers. That grant aid is not permitted any more through EU directives that we have transposed. We will look at other options, particularly around HVO and what we might be able to do in that space.”
“Some bespoke solutions have been put forward to residents in that development and it is something they will need to advance, but if we can provide support in an advisory way, we will.”
“It has been drafted with the intention of appointing the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, CRU, as the regulator for all heat networks, including district and communal heating, which Carlinn Hall falls under. The general scheme sets out proposed functions for the regulator, so there is work ongoing. The Deputy has raised Carlinn Hall on a number of occasions in this Chamber. It is a private scheme. It is not a district heating scheme. The SEAI has provided - I have asked them to provide - advisory assistance to residents. I believe that is under way. There are some solutions there. We are a long way from the EIB being able to assist Carlinn Hall residents, but if we can continue to provide advisory support to residents, I will continue to ensure that happens.”
“I met with officials from the EIB, and we signed an agreement the week before last. My Department is now engaged, through the SEAI, in undertaking a comprehensive advisory project, which will draw on best practice across Europe to help to inform the long-term strategy for developing district heating systems in Ireland. I am speaking at the district heating Ireland conference next week, and I expect to have expressions of interest in other schemes on that. In tandem, we are looking at the heat (networks and miscellaneous provisions) Bill, which will introduce a regulatory framework on district heating. The general scheme of the Bill has been approved by the Government.”
“I thank the Deputy. Government policy is supportive of the expansion of district heating to contribute to the diversification of fuel supply to decarbonise the heat sector. We have massive opportunities there. We have not done well in Ireland. We have one district heating scheme in place in Tallaght, but we have a number of others that we can deliver in the near term. To this end, the district heating steering group report was approved by the Government the year before last. The report contains a suite of recommendations, but we really need to move on this. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, has engaged with the EIB on foot of a recommendation in the steering group report to explore financing options for the establishment of a viable district heating sector in Ireland, including supports available from the EIB.”
“Any gas reserve will be State-owned and State-managed, and it is not for a private entity to deliver that for the State. That is not our position. It will be State-owned, State-led and State-managed.”
“I understand the point being made. We are committed to the publicly owned FSRU. We have actually advanced it. We meet regularly on this with GNI involved with my own officials and myself to expedite the delivery of it. Hopefully, the Deputy will see that in the coming weeks. I expect there will be a decision regarding options for its location, and indeed, its location. That is what the Government is committed to from an energy security perspective. That is absolutely consistent with the climate action plan. I want continued expansion of renewables and the acceleration of clean energy across all the different methods that we can, be they solar, wind, anaerobic digestion, AD, biomethane and all of that, to feed into our energy system. That is where we are moving. We are doing well but we need to accelerate that further.”
“I do not mean to be evasive, but I am acutely aware that there is an application and proceedings relating to a specific application and I do not want to say anything that would in any way, shape or form be seen as reaching into the planning process. However, I did respond to the letter I received from An Coimisiún Pleanála. I responded to it in the timeframe that was asked. An Coimisiún Pleanála will consider the application as it is received. It is up to the commission to decide upon it.”
“As the Deputy knows, I received a letter from An Coimisiún Pleanála that was addressed to the wrong office. It was received months after it was sent. I thought it was a strange letter to receive from An Coimisiún Pleanála, but I did respond to it. I provided the Government's position on it. The Deputy mentioned the fracked gas policy that was set aside. It was set aside because my predecessor received legal advice that clearly stated it was not legally sound and that policy should not differentiate between the type of LNG. It is a matter for An Coimisiún Pleanála to make a decision on a specific planning application.”
“Any application made for any fossil fuel generation is a matter for the planning authority, but it must have regard to our climate Act and our programme for Government.”
“Any application for fossil fuel infrastructure in Ireland will be subject to appropriate approvals by the relevant bodies. They also have to have regard to the provisions of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. Government policy on reducing fossil fuel use is set out in our programme for Government. We are absolutely committed to it. We remain of the view that long-term energy security is best achieved through substantial growth in indigenous clean, renewable energy; improvements in energy efficiency, which we have discussed; electrification of heat and transport; and increased electrical interconnection with our neighbours. The Celtic interconnector is under construction. We will have the MaresConnect interconnector, and we are engaging with European partners on another interconnector to continental Europe.”
“Tuigim an cheist. I want to put this in context. We go back to the Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 report that we published, and we published the Cambridge Economic Policy Associates report as well. We offered briefings on that too. A very clear risk was identified in that we have no gas reserve in this country. That is why we are proceeding with the floating storage and regasification unit, FSRU, which will be State-owned, State-led and State-operated. I expect we will receive a decision shortly from Gas Networks Ireland, GNI, on preferred locations. State-owned and State-led is absolutely needed and required. My focus is on expanding renewables, reducing our dependency on fossil fuels and moving away from them. We operate an open and transparent legal regulatory and planning consenting framework.”
“That is why we need to continue and accelerate the delivery of clean energy and renewables - energy that we ourselves own and can generate to decarbonise our society, to reduce energy bills and to secure energy for the future of this country. That is what drives me. Affordability is key and central to that. Every discussion I have at the European Council and with energy providers is about affordability. We have to work hard on that to drive down costs and provide affordability but also support those who need it most. That is why the measures in the budget were so critical.”
“As regards cost transparency, absolutely, and we need an analysis, and we are doing an analysis, of the costs that are there. I have met the four largest energy providers and have interrogated them on this very matter. We have to watch this very closely. Energy bills are too high in Ireland. They are too high right across Europe. In Cyprus, net energy costs are about 20% of average net pay, so we are not on our own on this. We are about the eighth most expensive in Europe. As I mentioned to Deputy Whitmore earlier, there are unique reasons for that because of our being an island nation, but we need to take measures that will drive down costs permanently. We will always be at risk of geopolitical issues too, though.”
“Into the future, I will look at maybe longer term borrowing and repayment to reduce the burden on the regulatory framework. That is something we have to balance, but we do need this grid investment. I put it to the Deputy again that projects like the North-South interconnector are absolutely required. This is consented to both sides of the Border and it is not developed. It needs to happen. The connector is one project that will bring down energy bills for businesses and households straight away.”
“As I have said in the House before, I reject both the assertions from the Department of public expenditure and the comments made earlier this year on housing and data centres. They are not correct. Government policy is clear on this. We have a growing population and growing housing stock, thankfully. Price review 6, when published before the end of this year, will show how we will meet that future energy demand. We need to invest in our grid, and there will be a cost associated with that. I mentioned what we were doing last night in relation to providing the equity investment for ESB and a further equity investment for EirGrid. That reduces the requirement for borrowing somewhat and allows them to leverage off that equity to borrow.”
“A number of scheme parameters have been designed to allow flexibility to obligated parties in meeting their obligations, which will in turn reduce the overall burden on the end consumer. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market and the implementation of the price review 6 process and its outcomes is a matter for the regulator, the CRU. The CRU is independent and, in relation to the outcome of the price review strategy and associated issues, the Deputy can and may wish to engage directly with it. He should note, however, the significant equity investment the Government is making in the system operators, which we discussed just last night. That in itself is significant-----”
“We are also committed to bringing about energy sovereignty in this country. As Deputy Ó Cearúil mentioned in the previous question, we have a real opportunity to do that and to secure for ourselves clean energy that is generated and owned by us and that will help us decarbonise our society and reduce our energy bills. Given the potential impact the RHO could have on end customers, energy affordability and the impact on household energy bills were key considerations in developing the scheme. My Department has carried out extensive analysis and stakeholder engagement, including with energy suppliers, to ensure that final decisions taken in relation to the scheme are evidence based and supportive of its successful introduction.”
“The programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses. I know, as I said earlier, that that is a real issue for people. The programme for Government commits to bringing forward additional measures to address those costs, and we have discussed that. I established a cross-government energy affordability task force. We identified particular measures, which we have dealt with in this budget. A further piece of work we are doing, which I will bring forward, is the final report in 2026. That will look at network charges, structures and so on. There will be a European dimension to this too, and it requires movement from Europe, particularly with regard to the spark gap. That needs to be addressed. We are committed to reaching our legally binding targets on climate neutrality.”
“As these come out of planning, our big focus has to be to get them into construction. While we are doing that, we are in the middle of our second auction, which I believe there has been good interest in. I intend to bring the results of that auction, once I receive them, to Cabinet in early December. I think that will show where Ireland is able to be successful with auctions where, unfortunately, other European partners are not at the moment.”
“Regarding MARA, which I established in my previous Ministry, it has statutory timeframes for decision-making. The problem is it is not leading them. That is a problem. It is working towards that. That means the connection policy from EirGrid will also be published on time. I attend the offshore wind energy task force and, for the first time, I brought this sector into the room. Therefore, it is not just Government agencies. We have brought in the development sector and it is at all of the meetings. Instead of people writing back and forth to each other, or attending separate meetings, everything is dealt with in the room. That urgency is there. Certainly, the request for further information from the board, without straying into the planning process, was a frustration but it is an independent process that we need to, and do, respect.”
“To be fair, the granting of onshore applications by An Coimisiún Pleanála in quarter 1 and quarter 2 of this year reached record levels. That is why we have had a very successful RESS 5 auction. However, offshore is really where we are going to see that absolute pivot. If we look at just those five projects, there is nearly 4GW. We have between 6 GW and 7 GW of onshore renewables. We will see in these projects alone what that will deliver. I will come back in on supplementary regarding MARA.”
“There are a couple of things there. We have an independent planning process. Sometimes it is a frustration for us, in that we want to see things delivered quicker but that is the reality. We have had people who will object to offshore wind as well. We respect the right of third parties. However, we have done things well too. If you look at onshore, which I have mentioned previously, we are a European leader in the integration of renewables into our grid. We are a European leader - and one of the world leaders; number two in the world - in relation to onshore winds. We have gone from about 7% of electricity generation through renewables just 20 years ago to about 41% or 42% last year. This shows what is possible.”
“I meet them regularly. We saw auctions in Holland recently where there were no bidders at all. Ireland is still seen as a place that is very attractive for offshore wind following on from what the Deputy said. Therefore, there are measures we have put in such as the Maritime Area Planning Act. We need faster consenting through MARA and are working through revised processes in MARA, which are starting to bear fruit. The Planning and Development Act, which the last Oireachtas passed and which the Minister, Deputy Browne, is commencing through the course of this year, will make a big difference as well by setting the statutory timelines. Indeed, the transposition of the RED II and RED III directive, which we are engaged in now will also be critically important.”
“There were significant further requests from An Coimisiún Pleanála on the five phase 1 projects, mainly related to very significant additional bird surveys. That is the reality, unfortunately, of where we are there but these will be delivered. Separately, an offshore wind auction process for 900 MW under the Tonn Nua site off our south coast is under way right now. This site is within the south coast DMAP, which was approved by the Oireachtas and the Tonn Nua project is expected to be operational by 2034. My Department is working towards further auctions to achieve our 2030 target. We had a successful RESS 5 onshore auction as well where we secured over 1 GW of onshore renewables. However, offshore is absolutely critical. We need to work these projects through planning and get them out of planning. I have met with the phase 1 developers.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Ó Cearúil as an gceist thábhachtach. I thank him for this important question. Our climate action plan specifies a target of 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. That is not going to happen but we need to ensure those projects are in construction and that is down to planning. This target will be met in the early 2030s through a combination of projects from phase 1 and from within the south coast DMAP. The five phase 1 projects with a combined capacity of 3.8 GW are in development off our east coast. Applications for planning consent for all five projects are with An Coimisiún Pleanála and are subject to planning consent. I anticipate that these projects will be in construction by 2030.”
“However, technologies are improving and we need to expand storage as well in order that we can release that energy, reduce curtailment costs and reduce dispatch down. That is going to happen. That is why PR6, which is the investment plan, will be published before the end of the year by CRU and will detail what investment we need. About €16 billion to €18 billion of investment in our grid between now and 2030-----”
“Now I am beginning to wonder whether the Deputy is for wind energy or not, following his last comments. The largest renewable provider of energy in the country is Bord na Móna. That is a company that has pivoted and is an example of how a company can transition from fossil fuels and be a leader in the delivery of renewables on land we own as a State. We see that when we drive through the country. Curtailment costs are an issue and reducing dispatch down is an issue. Why is that? It is because the grid needs upgrading and we need more storage. We have about 1 GW of storage but we need more. Storage is critically important as well in order that we can dispatch energy when we need it. This is an issue, by the way, right across Europe and the developed world. It is not unique to Ireland.”
“I would like to see it concluded because people need that type of certainty to see what is there. Technologies are changing for the better as well. That is why we need those guidelines updated too. There are real issues for some people in some communities but there have not been issues in many other communities and we need to make sure we can continue to drive on renewable sources of energy here. I will keep the Deputy informed of progress. People will get an opportunity to input into these guidelines when they go out on public display and I am certain the Deputy and many others, both in government and in opposition, will want to feed into them too.”
“Approximately 33% of our electricity comes through onshore wind energy. There are significant wind farm developments across the country, many of which do not cause any difficulty for any communities. The same goes with solar. I have visited many of them as well. People need clean, green renewable energy that is affordable and affordability will be driven through renewables. That said, however, the noise element of the guidelines is critically important. I have updated the Deputy on where that is at. The adoption of revised guidelines will be a matter for planning. This is not me passing the buck; it is just it sits under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. We are working with that Department directly on that. That piece of work is nearly concluded.”
“My Department, in the context of its environmental noise remit, appointed consultants in May 2023 to inform any amendments to the noise aspect of the guidelines. That work is now substantially complete. A strategic environmental assessment is being carried out on the draft guidelines as part of the review process. In this regard, I am advised the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage intends to undertake a public consultation on updated draft guidelines as part of the screening process, whereby all interested parties and, importantly, communities will have an opportunity to submit observations.”
“This has to be done in an appropriate manner in full consultation with those communities. Important related work is progressing, in collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, to review the existing wind energy development guidelines. The review is addressing a number of key aspects including noise, setback distance, shadow flicker, community obligation, community dividend and grid connections. In particular, my Department has been engaged on advancing guidance on the noise aspect of the draft guidelines to ensure they are robust and fit for purpose, having regard to our target to generate 80% of our electricity from renewable sources, and we need to get there, as well as the need to ensure adequate protection of communities and residential developments in proximity.”
“I acknowledge that the Deputy is not opposed to renewable energy. I note the recent High Court rulings related to private nuisance claims and related awards of damages connected with noise from particular wind farm developments. We currently have over 5 GW of onshore wind generation and in 2024, wind accounted for 33% our electricity demand. This is related to the previous question on pricing which I have just answered. Ireland has one of the best wind resources in the world. We are already among world leaders for installed onshore wind capacity per capita and we are a European leader for the integration of variable renewable electricity on the national grid. Meeting our national targets for wind energy will require further integration of renewable technologies in proximity to communities.”
“To answer the Deputy's question, work is ongoing on pricing. It is something I am watching very closely. That is why I have met the companies directly myself. It is important to acknowledge that the largest retailer has not increased its prices. We need to get prices down. We will do that by continuing to diversify our electricity market and electricity generation. That is why grid investment is so critical, including things like the North-South interconnector. If that was built, it would bring down energy prices for every household and every business pretty much straight away. Projects like that need to be delivered.”
“The Deputy understands how the energy markets work. I am just stating it factually in relation to the time lag between wholesale price decreases and retail price decreases. There are unique attributes to Ireland. That said, energy costs are too high and we need to bring those prices down permanently. We are affected by geopolitical issues. Ukraine has had an effect, absolutely. Europe has had to pivot away, and rightly so, from dependence on Russian gas and oil. We are still importing a significant amount of our energy from third countries. That is why the expansion of renewables is so critically important, which we are seeing. There was another successful option just a number of weeks ago for onshore and the delivery of additional electricity, our electricity, our energy that is clean and generated here.”
“They will have purchased energy ten or 12 months ahead in some instances. That is why we do not see that decrease happening as quickly as we would like. I will continue to meet with the energy retailers on a regular basis. I have interrogated their pricing structure and I will be bringing forward further measures in the final energy affordability report, which I will publish in 2026.”
“It is important to acknowledge that the largest energy retailer, Electric Ireland, did not increase its prices. I did discuss those very matters with the four companies in relation to their margins. The IEA report looked at the margin between retail and wholesale. It is not that the retail price is three times higher in Ireland than in other places. It is the margin. There are specific, unique characteristics to Ireland, particularly in relation to us being an island nation, the reliance that we still have on imported fossil, which we need to reduce further, and the fact that our energy retailers hedge and purchase forward. When we see a wholesale price decrease, I can fully understand people asking why the retail price does not come down straight away. The energy companies buy forward and they hedge.”
“For the upcoming winter period, some of the key customer protection measures that will remain in place include a disconnection moratorium for reasons of non-payment, minimum timelines for debt repayment plans, discounted tariffs for financial hardship meter customers and a promotion by energy suppliers of the vulnerable customer register, which is critically important. I would encourage people who feel they are in that space to make sure they are on the vulnerable customer register. That is in addition to existing sources of support such as fuel allowance, the household benefits package and the additional needs payment scheme operated under the Department of Social Protection. I will come back with further details in a supplementary.”
“Following my engagement with them I have received confirmation that hardship funds for those struggling to meet their energy costs will be made available to households this winter. That was a direct request that I put to them. They acceded to that request and I am grateful for that. I stated in response to a previous question that direct measures by way of assistance, particularly to those who need it most, were brought forward in the budget. The energy companies need to play their part too. Arrears levels are too high. I am questioning some of those arrears, particularly on gas. I think there is an issue with some of the data there that needs to be worked through. It was a good meeting. The CRU has also published enhanced customer protection measures for this winter.”
“As Minister, I meet with a range of stakeholders on important topics including energy prices, which is one of the most pressing. I can confirm that I have met with both the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, which is assigned consumer protection functions under the Electricity Regulation Act, and energy suppliers since being appointed as Minister. On 26 September 2025, I met with the four biggest energy suppliers in Ireland, Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy, SSE Airtricity and Energia, at separate meetings. In addition to my interactions, my officials meet with suppliers on a regular basis. I intend to meet the other smaller energy providers like Yuno and others which have not increased their energy prices this year.”