I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding a windfall tax on the excess profits of energy companies. On Tuesday, 29 September 2026, on the question, "That the amendment to the motion be agreed to", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 85(2), that division must be taken now.
Windfall Tax on the Excess Profits of Energy Companies: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]
The following motion was moved by Deputy Jennifer Whitmore on Wednesday, 20 September 2026:
That Dáil Éireann:
notes that:
— Irish households continue to face severe financial strain in the face of high and rising electricity prices;
— the average monthly wholesale electricity prices in Ireland have increased by 9.6 per cent in August, 2026 alone, and are up by 77 per cent year-on-year;
— retail electricity prices in Ireland were already the highest in Europe, with households paying an average of €480 per year more than the European Union (EU) average;
— retail electricity prices continue to rise rapidly, with a succession of eight providers having announced price increases in recent weeks, some of these increases in the double digits;
— a 1,000-litre fill of home heating oil now costs approximately €1,600, up more than 60 per cent in just the past year alone;
— according to the Central Statistics Office, the cost of household energy in Ireland has risen by a whopping 70 per cent in the past five years; and
— 323,559 Irish households were in electricity arrears in June according to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, amounting to around one in seven households;
further notes that:
— the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) recorded a pre-tax profit of €445.6 million for the first half of 2026, up from €351.6 million in the same period last year;
— it has recently been confirmed that the ESB Chief Executive Officer could see his salary hiked by a total of €161,000 by 2028, with a €90,000 increase to €410,000 per year having already been sanctioned;
— Energia recorded a pre-tax profit of €70 million for the second quarter of 2026, up 25 per cent year-on-year;
— Bord Gáis Energy recorded pre-tax profits of €50 million for the first six months of this year; and
— these kinds of bumper profits, and gold-plated salaries, are indicative of surging profits in the sector;
recognises that wholesale electricity prices are dictated largely by the cost of gas, meaning that energy companies that produce electricity from other sources, including renewables, can experience significant windfall gains when gas prices are high, as they are at present;
furthermore, notes that:
— the Government legislated in 2023, to introduce a temporary solidarity contribution and a cap on market revenues to clamp down on windfall gains in the energy sector;
— those measures, despite being in place for a relatively short period of time, raised a combined €456 million; and
— the Minister for Finance, has suggested that the State should wait for a joint EU approach to windfall taxes on the excess profits of energy companies, but Portugal has already moved ahead and introduced its own windfall tax; and
calls on the Government to:
— legislate to reintroduce both a market revenue cap and a temporary solidarity contribution, putting them on an independent statutory footing under Irish law that extends their operation for the period from 1st March, 2026 to 31st December, 2027; and
— use funds raised from taxing the windfall gains on energy companies to provide emergency relief to struggling individuals and families by immediately introducing a €400 energy credit, targeted at households earning up to €70,000.
Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:
To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:"
notes that the Government:
— remains deeply concerned about the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on energy prices;
— is acutely aware of the impact on households and businesses of the recent increases in the cost of energy, and is actively monitoring the current geopolitical situation and its impact on costs;
— has taken significant action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy by introducing one of the most comprehensive support packages in the European Union (EU); and
— affirms that energy affordability is a priority, with the Energy Affordability Action Plan to be submitted to Government in the coming weeks and consideration ongoing of supports for household; and
further notes that:
— the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has caused international wholesale gas prices to increase which has a significant knock-on impact on retail electricity prices;
— supplier hedging strategies have and are continuing to help cushion households from the full volatility in international wholesale energy markets;
— price setting by electricity suppliers, including standing charges is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned and each such company has its own different approach to pricing decisions over time, in accordance with factors such as, their overall company strategic direction and costs such as, staffing, tax, and infrastructure;
— the Government understands that any price increase can be a challenge for households and businesses;
— for that reason, the Government has taken action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy;
— extensions to the package of temporary fuel supports have brought the total cost of these measures to over €1.4 billion and are helping to reduce the cost burden at the petrol pump;
— successive budgets have provided targeted support to help households with energy costs;
— in Budget 2026, key measures included an extension until 2030 of the 9 per cent Value-Added-Tax rate currently applied to gas and electricity bills, enhanced social protection payments, including an increase to the Fuel Allowance weekly rate and an expansion in the eligibility rules, and a record allocation of €640 million for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) retrofit schemes;
— at the same time, additional retrofitting supports have been rolled out to further help households, capital expenditure of over €2 billion has delivered over 287,000 home energy upgrades from 2019 to the end of August 2026, including over 39,500 fully funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme;
— in January this year, we expanded and reformed retrofitting schemes to ensure more homeowners can receive grants, the new measures include, increased attic and wall insulation supports, an increased grant of €12,500 for heat pump installation, and new grants for windows and doors;
— almost 89,000 applications have been processed to the end of August 2026, an increase of 116 per cent on the same period last year;
— this year to the end of August, 2026, almost 42,000 homes have been upgraded through SEAI schemes, including over 6,800 homes at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme;
— the latest Eurostat report, (comparing electricity prices across the EU), outlines that Ireland had the fifth highest for household electricity prices in the second half of 2025, when adjusted to take account of the 'Purchasing Power Standard' (i.e. practical affordability – taking account of household income);
— the four biggest energy retailers have confirmed that hardship funds and focused measures are in place for any customers in difficulty;
— switching energy supplier or plan could save the average electricity and gas customers up to €700 and €400 (respectively) annually;
— protections are in place for customers experiencing difficulties in paying their bills and households struggling with their bill, are strongly encouraged to engage with their supplier;
— the Department of Social Protection can also provide support through the Additional Needs Payment to help households meet expenses, including difficulties with fuel bills;
— the Government has also established the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses, while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability;
— the NEAT has noted a wide array of interventions, including those such as a market's revenue cap and/or solidarity contribution, which in a previous form were based on EU-wide regulations and decisions and will continue to consider all potential interventions and developments in this regard;
— the Government will continue to monitor and assess the situation in relation to energy costs;
— the NEAT continues to work intensively on an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be submitted to Government in the coming weeks; and
— the Government will also make a range of relevant decisions as part of Budget 2027.".
-(Minister of State at the Department of Justice Home Affairs and Migration, Deputy Ardagh)
Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 76; Níl, 66; Staon, 0.
Tá
- Aird, William.
- Ardagh, Catherine.
- Boland, Grace.
- Brabazon, Tom.
- Brennan, Brian.
- Brophy, Colm.
- Browne, James.
- Burke, Colm.
- Burke, Peter.
- Butler, Mary.
- Butterly, Paula.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Byrne, Malcolm.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Michael.
- Callaghan, Catherine.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Carrigy, Micheál.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Cleere, Peter 'Chap'.
- Clendennen, John.
- Connolly, John.
- Cooney, Joe.
- Crowe, Cathal.
- Currie, Emer.
- Daly, Martin.
- Dempsey, Aisling.
- Devlin, Cormac.
- Dillon, Alan.
- Dolan, Albert.
- Feighan, Frankie.
- Fleming, Sean.
- Foley, Norma.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Geoghegan, James.
- Grealish, Noel.
- Heneghan, Barry.
- Heydon, Martin.
- Keogh, Keira.
- Kyne, Seán.
- Lahart, John.
- Lawless, James.
- Lowry, Michael.
- McAuliffe, Paul.
- McCarthy, Noel.
- McConalogue, Charlie.
- McCormack, Tony.
- McEntee, Helen.
- McGrath, Séamus.
- Moran, Kevin Boxer.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Moynihan, Shane.
- Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
- Murphy, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Neville, Joe.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Connell, Maeve.
- O'Connor, James.
- O'Donnell, Kieran.
- O'Meara, Ryan.
- O'Shea, John Paul.
- O'Sullivan, Christopher.
- O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
- Ó Cearúil, Naoise.
- Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
- Ó Muirí, Naoise.
- Roche, Peter.
- Scanlon, Eamon.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Smyth, Niamh.
- Timmins, Edward.
- Toole, Gillian.
- Troy, Robert.
- Ward, Barry.
Níl
- Ahern, Ciarán.
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Bennett, Cathy.
- Boyd Barrett, Richard.
- Brady, John.
- Buckley, Pat.
- Carthy, Matt.
- Clarke, Sorca.
- Collins, Michael.
- Conway-Walsh, Rose.
- Coppinger, Ruth.
- Cronin, Réada.
- Crowe, Seán.
- Cullinane, David.
- Cummins, Jen.
- Daly, Pa.
- Devine, Máire.
- Doherty, Pearse.
- Donnelly, Paul.
- Ellis, Dessie.
- Ennis, Daniel.
- Farrelly, Aidan.
- Farrell, Mairéad.
- Gibney, Sinéad.
- Gogarty, Paul Nicholas.
- Gould, Thomas.
- Graves, Ann.
- Guirke, Johnny.
- Hayes, Eoin.
- Healy-Rae, Danny.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Hearne, Rory.
- Kelly, Alan.
- Kenny, Eoghan.
- Kerrane, Claire.
- Lawless, Paul.
- Lawlor, George.
- Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
- McGrath, Mattie.
- McGuinness, Conor D.
- Mitchell, Denise.
- Murphy, Paul.
- Mythen, Johnny.
- Nash, Ged.
- Newsome Drennan, Natasha.
- Ní Raghallaigh, Shónagh.
- Nolan, Carol.
- O'Callaghan, Cian.
- O'Donoghue, Richard.
- O'Donoghue, Robert.
- O'Gorman, Roderic.
- O'Hara, Louis.
- O'Rourke, Darren.
- Ó Broin, Eoin.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- Ó Súilleabháin, Fionntán.
- Quaide, Liam.
- Quinlivan, Maurice.
- Rice, Pádraig.
- Sherlock, Marie.
- Stanley, Brian.
- Tóibín, Peadar.
- Wall, Mark.
- Ward, Charles.
- Ward, Mark.
- Whitmore, Jennifer.
Staon
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Jennifer Whitmore and Sinéad Gibney.
Amendment declared carried.
Question put: : "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to"
The Dáil divided: Tá, 76; Níl, 66; Staon, 0.
Tá
- Aird, William.
- Ardagh, Catherine.
- Boland, Grace.
- Brabazon, Tom.
- Brennan, Brian.
- Brophy, Colm.
- Browne, James.
- Burke, Colm.
- Burke, Peter.
- Butler, Mary.
- Butterly, Paula.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Byrne, Malcolm.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Michael.
- Callaghan, Catherine.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Carrigy, Micheál.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Cleere, Peter 'Chap'.
- Clendennen, John.
- Connolly, John.
- Cooney, Joe.
- Crowe, Cathal.
- Currie, Emer.
- Daly, Martin.
- Dempsey, Aisling.
- Devlin, Cormac.
- Dillon, Alan.
- Dolan, Albert.
- Feighan, Frankie.
- Fleming, Sean.
- Foley, Norma.
- Gallagher, Pat the Cope.
- Geoghegan, James.
- Grealish, Noel.
- Heneghan, Barry.
- Heydon, Martin.
- Keogh, Keira.
- Kyne, Seán.
- Lahart, John.
- Lawless, James.
- Lowry, Michael.
- McAuliffe, Paul.
- McCarthy, Noel.
- McConalogue, Charlie.
- McCormack, Tony.
- McEntee, Helen.
- McGrath, Séamus.
- Moran, Kevin Boxer.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Moynihan, Shane.
- Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
- Murphy, Michael.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Neville, Joe.
- O'Brien, Darragh.
- O'Connell, Maeve.
- O'Connor, James.
- O'Donnell, Kieran.
- O'Meara, Ryan.
- O'Shea, John Paul.
- O'Sullivan, Christopher.
- O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
- Ó Cearúil, Naoise.
- Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
- Ó Muirí, Naoise.
- Roche, Peter.
- Scanlon, Eamon.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Smyth, Niamh.
- Timmins, Edward.
- Toole, Gillian.
- Troy, Robert.
- Ward, Barry.
Níl
- Ahern, Ciarán.
- Bacik, Ivana.
- Bennett, Cathy.
- Boyd Barrett, Richard.
- Brady, John.
- Buckley, Pat.
- Carthy, Matt.
- Clarke, Sorca.
- Collins, Michael.
- Conway-Walsh, Rose.
- Coppinger, Ruth.
- Cronin, Réada.
- Crowe, Seán.
- Cullinane, David.
- Cummins, Jen.
- Daly, Pa.
- Devine, Máire.
- Doherty, Pearse.
- Donnelly, Paul.
- Ellis, Dessie.
- Ennis, Daniel.
- Farrelly, Aidan.
- Farrell, Mairéad.
- Gibney, Sinéad.
- Gogarty, Paul Nicholas.
- Gould, Thomas.
- Graves, Ann.
- Guirke, Johnny.
- Hayes, Eoin.
- Healy-Rae, Danny.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Hearne, Rory.
- Kelly, Alan.
- Kenny, Eoghan.
- Kerrane, Claire.
- Lawless, Paul.
- Lawlor, George.
- Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
- McGrath, Mattie.
- McGuinness, Conor D.
- Mitchell, Denise.
- Murphy, Paul.
- Mythen, Johnny.
- Nash, Ged.
- Newsome Drennan, Natasha.
- Ní Raghallaigh, Shónagh.
- Nolan, Carol.
- O'Callaghan, Cian.
- O'Donoghue, Richard.
- O'Donoghue, Robert.
- O'Gorman, Roderic.
- O'Hara, Louis.
- O'Rourke, Darren.
- Ó Broin, Eoin.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- Ó Súilleabháin, Fionntán.
- Quaide, Liam.
- Quinlivan, Maurice.
- Rice, Pádraig.
- Sherlock, Marie.
- Stanley, Brian.
- Tóibín, Peadar.
- Wall, Mark.
- Ward, Charles.
- Ward, Mark.
- Whitmore, Jennifer.
Staon
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Butler and Emer Currie; Níl, Deputies Jennifer Whitmore and Sinéad Gibney.
Question declared carried.
Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 7.36 p.m. go dtí 8.47 a.m., Déardaoin, an 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2026.
The Dáil adjourned at 7.36 p.m. until 8.47 a.m. on Thursday, 1 October 2026.