Simon Harris and Pearse Doherty row over fuel poverty amid cold snap

Irish deputy premier Simon Harris accused Sinn Fein of hypocrisy as they claimed the Irish government had made it “impossible” for people to stay warm this winter.

Sinn Fein finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the number of those in energy arrears, published by the energy regulator on Wednesday, was “a flashing red light” for what was to come during the cold months.

He said the 180,000 households in arrears with their gas bills did not include those who are “only managing to keep up”.

He said the Tanaiste’s advice in the Dail that people should not be afraid to turn on their heating would be of “cold comfort” and that without intervention, there would be “a serious winter of disconnect – discontent – for so many, many families”.

He criticised the government not issuing energy credits again, as they had “helped people survive last winter”.

Mr Harris said the government was conscious of the low-temperature warnings issued for 10 counties from 11pm on Thursday until Friday morning.

He said the government had intervened on fuel poverty, referencing the fuel allowance, now worth more than 1,000 euro a year; expanding the working family payment so that they can qualify for the fuel allowance, meaning 450,000 homes, or around a quarter of all homes, would qualify for the payment; a freeze on the VAT rate at 9% for gas and electricity bills for the next five years; and a reduced PSO (Public Service Obligation) levy.

He said energy minister Darragh O’Brien had met the four largest energy companies who said they each have hardship funds in place for vulnerable customers, and there was a disconnection moratorium in place for registered vulnerable customers from November until March 31.

“I want to be very clear this winter, nobody should be afraid to turn on their heat during the cold weather,” Mr Harris said.

Mr Doherty said that his advice would be “cold comfort” to people.

“‘Don’t be cold this winter’. Do you not listen to the facts? Do you not listen to what has been said by the CRU (Commission for Regulation of Utilities), the hard, unvarnished facts: 70,000 more households, more families, more individuals, more houses, real people cannot pay their electricity bill in the first six months of this year.

“The record number that we’re seeing is from the middle of July, the warmest month of the year.”

He added: “I put it to you, you have consciously made it impossible for people to stay warm this winter, and I would ask you to bring forward energy credits to support these families and provide them with a lifeline during these winter months.”

Mr Harris said Sinn Fein’s call for more to be done for those struggling to pay energy bills this winter was “hypocrisy”.

“You have a partitionist approach when it comes to energy policy,” Mr Harris said.

“You don’t think it’s enough for somebody in Co Louth to have 1,000 euro in fuel allowance this winter, but you think someone up the road in Armagh should get by on just £100?”

He said the Northern Ireland Executive was led by Sinn Fein and both the finance and economy minister roles at Stormont are held by Sinn Fein’s John O’Dowd and Caoimhe Archibald.

“You’re the largest party in the Assembly. You haven’t put forward a cost-of-living package. The fuel allowance is a paltry £100 to £300 compared to the 1,000 euro here.

“So to the people at home this winter – access our supports, but don’t fall for their hypocrisy,” Mr Harris said.

Fine Gael ministers were heard saying “you don’t like the truth” as members on the Sinn Fein benches objected while Labour TD for Kildare South Mark Wall began speaking during his time slot.