Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action to discuss energy poverty

The meeting at 11am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will hear from representatives of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Social Justice Ireland and Friends of the Earth.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Leddin said: “Energy Poverty is defined as when a household is unable to achieve an adequate or comfortable and safe standard of warmth, and supply of energy services at an affordable cost. Also known as fuel poverty, this was already a significant socio-economic problem in Ireland, made much broader and deeper by the consequences of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine and the global spike in energy prices.

“It is also a major policy challenge for governments as we tackle the climate crisis and move away from carbon fuels to low emission renewables for our energy and heating needs. The Committee welcomes this engagement with our stakeholders and looks forward to discussing how we reduce energy poverty in the context of the move to a carbon neutral society.”

The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.