Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-05
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Simon Harris (FG), Wicklow

It is unfair to the work of the CCPC to call it toothless. Last year, it got six convictions and its first ever criminal conviction. It is a body that can levy fines of up to €10 million. I hope, before the Deputy gets into the litany of his view about what the Government should do, that he will join with us in welcoming the fact that the CCPC, which has significant powers, has opened an urgent investigation into allegations of price-gouging in relation to the energy situation. I encourage everyone in this House to pass on any information they have in this regard. There is an independent agency. The Deputy and I cannot stand up and decide to convict people for price-gouging. What we can do is seek an urgent investigation into it, which we have secured. That is an action that a responsible and effective Minister has taken.
If he were not meeting the companies tomorrow, the Deputy would be questioning why he were not. Sometimes, he cannot win. Earlier in the week, the Opposition asked why the Minister just sent a letter. The Minister is doing what a Minister should do, that is, sitting down with the companies and industry representative bodies tomorrow, in addition to the urgent investigation under way by the CCPC. I thank the Minister for the work he is doing in this regard.
To say there is no support from this Government for families is just not true. This Government has taken many actions to assist people right across the country, such as free school books, hot school meals and increases to pensions and the carer’s allowance. There are more people in work than ever before. We saw less than one hour ago figures come out on our economic growth that show that real incomes are now rising. Real incomes in Ireland are rising. You would not think that in here with the conversations we have.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-05/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-05