Once again households are being dealt a blow through higher energy costs and once again this Government is choosing to stand back and not step in. We already have some of the highest electricity rates in Europe. Record numbers of people are in arrears and energy poverty is a daily reality for far too many families. Yet, at this critical moment, the Government has withdrawn the electricity credits which was the only meaningful support these families had. It now expects these hard-pressed households to shoulder the cost of the upgrading of the grid. This is absolutely indefensible. Households and small businesses will face increases in electricity charges of up to 28% while large data centres, which are already putting enormous pressure and strain on the grid, are set to benefit with a reduction in their charges of up to 20%. Let us be clear about what this actually means. Ordinary people are being asked to subsidise the profits of large multinational corporations. That is not an accident or inevitable; it is a political choice.

The Government refuses to challenge the price gouging by energy companies and it refuses to stand up to the large energy users. Sinn Féin has always been clear that the Government must intervene and stop these price hikes. Households should not be paying for the Government's inaction.

I second Senator Harmon's proposal to amend the Order of Business.