Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has announced his party’s emergency measures to cut energy costs.
The party will bring forward a motion in the Dáil this week with a windfall tax for energy companies and cash supports for struggling households.
Teachta Doherty said: “Prices are going up and up, yet the government is failing to act.
“The government refused Sinn Féin’s calls for an emergency budget before the summer and have been dragging their heels about acting to help hard-pressed workers and families.
“People can’t wait; they need help and they need it now. Sinn Féin will use our time in the Dáil next week to bring forward our plan to cut energy costs urgently. The government must back our plan and ensure workers and families get a much-needed break from these costs.”
Teachta Doherty outlined that the Sinn Féin plan would cut electricity bills to the prices they were in 2021.
Also, the plan also outlines the need for a windfall tax “so that businesses that are making obscene profits from this crisis are forced to give some of this back into families’ pockets,” Deputy Doherty said.
He continued: “Sinn Féin’s plan would deliver other key supports, including introducing cash payments to help low and middle income households with their other energy bills. Our plan includes making a double child benefit payment for every child in recognition that households with children tend to spend more on energy bills.
“These are all important steps which could be introduced quickly to make a real difference to hard-pressed workers and families who are worried about how they will pay their bills. People need reassurance now that they will be able to afford their bills.”
Deputy Doherty issued a call to all TDs to back Sinn Féin’s proposals to cut energy costs when it is brought before the Dáil next week.
