The Taoiseach's plan to withdraw energy credits in October's budget is a terrible one. Last week, almost half a million customers were informed by their energy companies that they would be hit with massive electricity bill hikes from next month. Irish households already pay among the highest electricity prices in Europe and now these energy companies squeeze struggling families again. Then along comes the Taoiseach to cancel the energy credits and he is effectively telling households, "Tough, you are on your own." Surely, this latest barrage of electricity price hikes gives him pause for thought. Surely, he can see that people still need the support of these energy credits. He cannot leave households high and dry and must include energy credits in the budget on 7 October.

I am surprised the Deputy used the term "cancel". We have cancelled nothing. Last year we had a particular cost-of-living package, and the previous year, given the impact of the post-Covid scenario and the inflationary spiral that went up as high as 10%. I also note that Sinn Féin is not challenging the energy companies.

Neither are you, and you are the Taoiseach.

It is giving the energy companies carte blanche.

We did. We said-----

Some of these companies are making significant profits. We need an engagement with the companies.

Well, go and engage with them. You are in charge, are you not?

In particular, we should focus on the companies ensuring that people under pressure and on low incomes are treated appropriately. There will be supports in the budget for those most in need. We will be targeting resources towards those who will be impacted the most by the increase in energy prices. We have taken a decision on VAT to bring it down to 9%. We have retained that. We will also look at that again in the budget.