The protests witnessed in Galway and elsewhere over the past week could have been avoided if the Government had acted sooner to quell public anger over soaring energy prices and cost-of-living pressures, according to Social Democrats by-election candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich.
Míde said:
“These protests were a manifestation of how desperate many people feel as everyday costs continue to soar – not just for fuel, but for everything in this country. With fuel supplies at forecourts across Galway city and county quickly drying up, the ending of the blockade in the docks will have been met with huge relief.
“But considerable anger and frustration remains. People will continue to struggle to pay for the basics – food, energy and housing – and this out of touch Government is just not listening to them. The reality is that the support package announced last night is going to exclude hundreds of thousands of people who are under significant pressure – such as the 320,000 households in arrears with their electricity bills.
“On Wednesday, the Dáil will debate a Social Democrats’ motion which proposes a range of supports, including a targeted €400 energy credit and a supplementary mileage scheme for emergency workers, like nurses and carers.
“The events of the past week are a stark reminder of the urgent need to reduce the country’s dependency on fossil fuels and have underscored how exposed we are to sudden energy shocks. Our motion also calls on the Government to massively expand supports for solar – including a doubling of grants to €3,600 and the inclusion of solar panels in the Warmer Homes Scheme, which targets supports at those households most at risk of fuel poverty.
“These are the kind of ambitious measures we need to see introduced now, so that all homes suitable for solar panels can have them installed as quickly as possible – saving households up to €450 a year in their energy bills.”
April 13, 2026