The Taoiseach’s belated acceptance that there is price gouging occurring in the energy sector must be followed by immediate government action to prevent consumers from further exploitation, according to Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party’s energy spokesperson, said:
“When questioned on this issue by our party leader Holly Cairns in the Dáil today, the Taoiseach finally admitted that Irish energy consumers are being subjected to price gouging.
“This is nothing new. Households continue to be fleeced by energy companies, four years after the war began in Ukraine, despite dramatic reductions in wholesale energy prices since then.
“Just days after it was confirmed that 320,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills, the US/Israeli attack on Iran – which has caused widespread instability in the Middle East and impacted oil and gas production – has led to fresh fears that energy companies will use the fog of war to further exploit their customers.
“Already we are hearing of customers being hit with soaring home-heating oil costs, which is completely outrageous.
“But Irish energy consumers cannot take any further price hikes. For some time I have been pressing the government to order the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to carry out an investigation into suspected price gouging by energy companies – something it has failed to do.
“Given the uncertain times ahead, the government must also revisit its refusal to provide targeted energy credits to vulnerable households, a measure that the Social Democrats called for in the last budget.
“Now that the Taoiseach has finally admitted there is price gouging going on in the energy sector, the question is: what is he going to do about it?”
March 3, 2026