I am grateful for this opportunity. Will the Tánaiste consider introducing a programme of emergency measures for businesses and households to make them more resilient in the face of rising fuel prices? I have in mind switching to shallow refits; heat controls, which could cut energy by 25%; smart meters, which 750,000 households have not exploited; initiating measures on food waste and refurbishment; better sharing platforms to allow more efficient use; and better use of our stock of homes by addressing vacancy and right-sizing. I know the Opposition will pour scorn on such measures and say we are out of touch but the reality is we need structural changes to respond quickly to this challenge, which is unlikely to go out of sight in the near future. There is huge community interest in implementing and supporting such measures.

I broadly agree with the Deputy. The probability is that energy prices will fall back and ease, and I hope they do, but there will be an upward trend in the cost of energy over the next five or ten years. As a result, the solution cannot always be subsidies and tax cuts. We have to help businesses and householders reduce the costs of energy, make their homes and businesses more efficient and embrace solar and microgeneration to bring down their costs. On the business side, I had a look at this the other day and there are 20 different schemes available to businesses to help them reduce their energy costs. These range from advice to audits and helping with cattle costs and those investments. There are almost too many schemes. There are 20 schemes and in the round they are inadequate, which is something we need to work on, both for householders and businesses.