Sir, – The Taoiseach, although correctly stating that people would have expected an earlier warning system to be in place in relation to energy security concerns, seems to be completely oblivious to the fact that he is the person who should have ensured that this system was in fact in place.
Kevin O’Sullivan’s interview in The Irish Times with Eddie O’Connor of Supernode on October 11th last year spelled out how this might have been done, suggesting a Nphet-ike structure should be set up for this very purpose (“Expert team needed to respond to threat of power outages in winter, says Eddie O’Connor”, Business, October 11th, 2021).
His suggestion was not picked up by the media or indeed Government at the time.
Perhaps this interview should be reprinted and a copy sent to the Taoiseach’s office.
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This could obviate the need for commissioning what will indeed be a very drawn-out review of supply issues and get to the nub of the issue, which is actually ensuring the provision of a supply of energy. – Yours, etc,
MAIRÉAD
CASHMAN,
Salthill,
Galway.
Sir, – The Taoiseach said on August 4th that windfall taxes are being considered for the budget but has remained tightlipped on the matter since, despite the fact that his claim has not been confirmed by the Department of Finance and despite increasing calls for such taxes. Windfall taxes could be used to offset rising energy bills at a time when St Vincent de Paul is reporting a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of households seeking help (News, August 23rd).
I am in favour of taking the entire energy sector into public ownership to eliminate profiteering but at the same time I do support the call for windfall taxes.
Windfall taxes should not be puny; if they are introduced they should be hefty to reflect the massive profits being made by the energy companies.
The Taoiseach has stayed quiet on this matter for three weeks now. He won’t be able to stay quiet on it until Budget Day. He should make a clear statement in support of them now and make it clear that they will be very far from being token. – Yours, etc,
MICK BARRY TD,
(Socialist Party & Solidarity,
Cork North Central),
Leinster House,
Dublin 2.
Sir, – David Doran hopes that “workers arriving home after a day’s work can cook their dinner without being fleeced”(Letters, August 23rd).
I’d suggest the time is coming very shortly when arriving home from work and preparing to cook the dinner it would be wise to remain fully fleeced, and perhaps add some thermal underwear, and some class of a woolly hat. – Yours, etc,
EUGENE KILKENNY,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.