“Insurmountable costs”: Mayo TD calls for urgent supports as energy prices surge

Mayo TD Rose Conway-Walsh has called on the Government to introduce immediate energy supports for businesses, warning that rising fuel and energy prices are placing severe pressure on companies across the country.

She said the sharp increases in oil and fuel prices following the escalation of the Middle East conflict are creating “insurmountable costs” for many businesses.

The Sinn Féin TD accused the Government of failing to act despite acknowledging that customers are being exploited through rising energy prices.

“The government has sat on its hands and refused to do anything to tackle the energy rip-off and price gouging,” Deputy Conway-Walsh said. “The conflict in the Middle East is deeply concerning on many levels, but what we are now seeing at the pumps and with regards to energy prices goes far beyond normal market fluctuation.”

She added that even before the latest escalation, Ireland already had some of the highest energy prices in Europe.

“Sinn Féin has repeatedly called for the reversal of the most recent carbon tax increases and the cancellation of all future increases,” she said.

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According to Deputy Conway-Walsh, small and medium-sized enterprises were already struggling with the rising cost of doing business and cannot continue to absorb further increases in oil and fuel prices.

Speaking following a meeting of the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee, Deputy Conway-Walsh said she had urged Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, to introduce temporary supports to help businesses remain viable as energy costs continue to rise.

She also questioned whether the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has sufficient powers to fully investigate alleged price gouging and take enforcement action.

Deputy Conway-Walsh said the Government must engage directly with hauliers and energy-intensive industries to address their concerns and consider measures such as reintroducing the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme.

“The Government cannot stand on the sidelines observing while energy companies exploit international instability to drive up prices,” she said.

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She added that Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Energy, the Environment, Climate and Transport, Pa Daly, has introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at tackling high energy costs.

“Doing nothing for businesses in the midst of this major global economic shock, where no end can be predicted, is not an option,” she said.