Simon Harris

It's a very different scenario for people trying to heat their homes in the winter.

And government can't rule out any further interventions.

But that shouldn't be the only conversation.

We also have to look at energy and the round energy policy from a taxation point of view and from an expenditure point of view.

I think there are people today who don't qualify for fuel allowance who are still finding things really tough in Ireland.

How we best decide to assist them, should the war still be continuing, should the impact still be considering, is a matter for consideration.

But they won't be forgotten.

They won't be left out.

And this is the point I'm making.

I'm very proud of being in a government that has massively expanded fuel allowance.

About a quarter of households in Ireland are now getting fuel allowance.

including 50,000 low-income working families, carers, people with disabilities, pensioners.

I very much support that.

But I'm also conscious there's people who are working, just getting by and don't qualify for that too.

So how do we help them in the budget through reducing costs or taxes or both?

But also then how do we structurally help them?

How do we have a more informed conversation about how we drive down energy prices in Ireland?

And that's what I've tasked the chief economist and his team with.

And 470,000 people in receipt of fuel allowance as well.

I think it would be a foolish and arrogant government that would rule out anything right now.