In light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, it is very disappointing to see how quickly both retailers, petrol pumps and home heating oil providers are instantly jacking up prices. It is totally unfair because it has been already outlined that a spike in crude oil prices should not result in an immediate knee-jerk reaction or an increase in the price of wholesale fuels at petrol pumps and from home heating suppliers.

Just this morning, I was talking with a bus driver who said that yesterday, to fill a tank, compared with today it has increased by €60 already. It is totally scandalous that we have this predatory approach by retailers who are taking advantage of the perception of an increase in fuel prices. There is obviously ongoing unrest in the Middle East but the people who are being charged unfairly now are being charged for oil that was bought at a much cheaper price. There needs to be a wider conversation about this, where we encourage and write a letter to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, to investigate this.

There is a wide range of different prices at different pumps and fuel stations around the country currently. It causes huge dissatisfaction. I have had a number of people contact me. I have seen a lot of people commenting on it online and there is huge frustration and dissatisfaction that prices are being increased so quickly when this fuel was bought at a much cheaper price. The prices go up very quickly but they do not always come down very quickly. It take a long time for the benefits and knock-on effects to be felt by customers. We need to have a statement from the CCPC on it and I would welcome the Leader's support on that.

Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome Seamus O'Brien, the former County Longford footballer and a recent retiree, to Seanad Éireann. I do not know if he has retired from football or work but either way, we wish him a happy retirement. Anois, an Seanadóir Sarah O'Reilly.

People right across the country are worried about paying more at the pump because of global instability that will inevitably push up fuel prices and this is on top of already struggling to pay for basic necessities like energy bills and groceries. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, has estimated that around 29% of households are living in energy poverty. Some 320,000 households, or one in seven homes across Ireland, are in arrears with their electricity bills. The Government cut energy credits from budget 2026 with no plan in place to support families who they knew would struggle to afford paying their energy bills. The Tánaiste has said that help is on its way but surely the Government was aware of the impact that cutting energy credits could have on households.

The programme for Government states that the Government will explore ways to reduce energy poverty by diverting surplus renewable energy to these households. This would be life-changing for many families who simply cannot afford to heat their homes. We had representatives from EnergyCloud in the social protection committee and they are doing brilliant work in this space. You could feel their frustration.

EnergyCloud has an excellent product, the know-how, the costings and the technology but it is still getting no buy-in from the Government for this. It has a product that costs cents to manufacture and will divert surplus energy into homes at risk of energy poverty. It is already in some social houses. We have a really simple idea that is cost effective and a solution that is ready to go. It needs to be rolled out countrywide. I would like to get feedback from the Department of the environment and climate action and the Minister on this initiative and on whether they are actively trying to implement it.

I apologise, as I could not read my own handwriting. I got the running order mixed up. Seanadóir Tully should have been next. After her is Seanadóir Costello.