FINANCE MINISTER SIMON Harris has been criticised for announcing possible one-off payments to help people make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps without providing any details of a timeline.

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said today that Harris has “pulled the rug” from under EVs and heat pump sales with his remarks.

“There is a problem with floating an idea in terms of extra financial supports and not following through quickly,” the Dublin Mid West TD said.

“Because anyone who is thinking of investing in an EV or particularly investing in a heat pump, they’re obviously not going to do anything now until they see what the government is actually coming forward with,” he added. 

Green TD Roderic O’Gorman says Simon Harris has pulled the rug on EV sales and retrofitting with his announcement that there will be some sort of package. He said people who were thinking of investing in a heat pump or EV won’t invest now until supports come in. Says details are needed now.

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— Jane Matthews (@janematthews1.bsky.social) April 28, 2026 at 11:35 AM

O’Gorman said that while his party supports any incentives to encourage people to make the switch to clean energy, people need clarity on when any supports will be introduced.

Harris floated the idea over the weekend at a meeting of the Youth of the European People’s Party Council at Dublin City Hall.

Speaking on the plinth at Leinster House today, O’Gorman said consumers cannot wait until the Budget in October for support. 

A similar point was made by Labour TD Ciarán Ahern, who said he wants “a little less conversation, and a little more action” from the Tánaiste in relation to this.

“He has been basically flying kites about all sorts of different schemes, one-off payments the government may or may not bring in,” the Dublin South West TD said. 

We would hope that the fact that he’s raising these potential incentives now, and the potential for increasing them, that it doesn’t actually affect the current uptake of those incentives in the time between his announcement of them and the time they may come to fruition in the budget or if ever,” Ahern said.

The Department of Finance has been contacted for comment.