People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has said that the government must now intervene in the energy market and cap prices to take some pressure off households who struggle to pay their monthly bills.
The TD was responding to the results of an Irish Mirror poll which found that almost 80% of people are struggling to pay their monthly bills.
The survey also found that 70% of respondents are using hot water bottles instead of heating.
He said: “We are calling, yet again, for the government to step in and impose a cap on the prices that energy companies can charge consumers. The government has resolutely stated time and again that they will not take any budgetary measures this side of the recess. This is absolutely unacceptable and shows that the government are completely out of touch with the pain and anxiety that people are feeling in regard to the cost of living crisis.
“The statistics in this survey are absolutely galling. Nearly 8 in 10 respondents said that they are struggling to pay bills for things like gas and electricity, while a shocking 70% of people are using hot water bottles instead of heating. This is absolutely scandalous and the government must hang their heads in shame.
“International factors, such as Putin’s bloody war, are indeed a factor, but there are measures that the government in this country can take to take the edge off the crisis for people. The government has sat on its hands while energy prices go through the roof.
“What they must do is use the powers available to them under the Consumer Protection Act to cap energy prices and combat energy company profiteering. The government can do this, but they refuse. In refusing this action they are allowing people to flounder and spiral further into debt.”