TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has signalled that the government will roll out supports  to households to help them transition away from fossil fuels. 

Speaking at the Youth of the European People’s Party council meeting yesterday, Harris said – at national and European level – governments must now incentivise people to make the changes needed to reduce reliance on imported fuels, to reduce their energy bills.

“We said this after the illegal invasion of Ukraine – in my opinion we did not fully learn our lesson then and, as an EPP leader, we have a duty not to make the same mistake now,” he said. 

The comments come days after the EU Commission announced a major package to lower energy costs, giving European government’s more firepower to roll out additional supports. 

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The Taoiseach confirmed this week that a substantial package of support for the agriculture and transport sectors will be announced next week. 

Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien has previously indicated that those in energy arrears could be targeted to get additional supports to move renewable energy. 

Harris indicated there are looking at additional practical supports and once-off measures to help people transition at their own pace. 

“Households and small businesses cannot be expected to carry the burden alone. Governments must help,” Harris said yesterday.

“This means targeted grants, accessible financing, and continued investment in infrastructure – from retrofitting homes to expanding renewable energy and improving our electricity grid,” he added. 

Aside from energy supports that could be forthcoming, the Tánaiste has indicated throughout the week that this year’s budget will include a personal tax package

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“I really do believe that a personal income tax package is actually important. It’s important in terms of assisting people, in terms of keeping a little bit of their own money and also making sure that work always pays,” Harris said. 

“We have four more budgets, though, in the lifetime of this government, and obviously the pace and increment at which we move will be informed by the economic analysis and decisions we’ll make as a collective,” said the Tánaiste.

Further energy credits are not being ruled in or our at this stage, both the Tánaiste and Taoiseach confirmed this week. 

“The genuine position of the government is we have to keep everything under review. We have to be agile,” Harris said.