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Dáil returns with cost of living and energy set to dominate

Inside Politics: Yearly ritual resumes as two-month summer break comes to an end

The royal funeral next week will also see many Irish political leaders travelling to London. Photograph: Alan Betson

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Harry McGee
Wed Sep 14 2022 - 07:48

And so it begins...

The Dáil returns after a two-month summer break.

There’s a bit of a ritual to this time of the year. We have the party think-ins in sequence. Then, on the opening day, it’s like the Jones’s Road entrance to Croke Park between returning politicians, staffers, hangers-on and protests.

The first Private Members’ motions give us an indication of the themes that are going to dominate the early autumn. No prizes for guessing it’s the cost of living and energy prices. The two Private Members’ motions this week, from Sinn Féin and the Regional Group, focus on this.

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In advance, Pat Leahy, Simon Carswell and Vivienne Clarke report that the Government will cap the revenues of energy companies, tax their windfall profits and give all of the proceeds to households and businesses.

Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath confirmed as much on Tuesday at the conclusion of the Fianna Fáil think-in. It was, wrote Pat Leahy, the Coalition’s clearest statement yet of its emerging policy on tackling rising energy costs.

“We will provide direct support to our citizens and to our businesses, and we will take money off those energy companies who are making unjustified gains,” Mr McGrath said in Mullingar.

Expect a return to hostilities at Leaders’ Questions at 2pm also between Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. The main Opposition party disclosed on Tuesday it is willing to push a total of €3.8 billion towards the cost-of-living crisis. There are more details on its spending plans here.

In the afternoon, Chief Whip Jack Chambers will publish the Government’s list of priority legislation for the autumn. Obviously both the Finance Bill and Social Welfare Bill will feature early given that we are going to have our first September budget.

The Cabinet is meeting this morning with a packed agenda. Already we know some of what will be decided. Green Party leader and Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan will publish a consultation paper on energy security (including suggestions on the controversial topic of storing liquefied natural gas). And Leo Varadkar will also seek Cabinet approval for a substantial 80c hike in the minimum wage to €11.30 an hour. This is another response to soaring costs in the economy. Cormac McQuinn has the details.

Of course, the royal funeral next week will also see many Irish political leaders travelling to London, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin’s Northern leader Michelle O’Neill.

Pat Leahy and Jack Power report that the Taoiseach is expected to meet UK prime minister Liz Truss for discussions on the Northern Ireland protocol on the margins of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. This comes against indications that the EU is willing to make further concessions, saying that actual checks will take place on only a few lorries each day travelling into Northern Ireland from Britain.

There is a bit of light relief. You will be glad to hear we have the return of the (ordinary) parliamentary party meetings tonight. We await with bated breath.

Best Reads

Vintage piece from Miriam Lord on the Corpus Christ procession of Sinn Féiners who arrived for the party’s think-in in Dublin yesterday.

Vintage Fintan O’Toole, too; doing what he does best with an exceptional piece on Enoch Burke.

Derek Scally has an interesting report pointing out the gap between German political promises on military caution and its actions on the ground.

An astounding piece from Frank McNally about the time the late queen rang the wrong number in Birr, Co Offaly.

Here’s my analysis of Sinn Féin’s political standing at this moment in time.

Playbook

Dáil

14.00: Leaders’ Questions.

15.50: Statements on IBRC Commission of Investigation Report.

19.10: Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Institutional Burials Act 2022 (Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam) Order 2022.

20.05: Private Members’ business (Sinn Féin): Motion re Measures to Assist with Household Bills.

22.05: Topical Issues.

22.53: Dáil adjourns.

Seanad

14.30: Commencement Matters.

17:00: Address to Seanad Éireann by United States Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh. He is also the former Mayor of Boston and can speak Irish. His parents hail from Carna in south Connemara.

19.00: Private Members’ business: Motion re Energy (Fianna Fáil Senators).

21.00: Seanad adjourns.

Committees

09.30: Enterprise:

Pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Bill, 2022.

  • Representatives from the Law Society of Ireland.
  • Representatives from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
  • Representatives from the Consumers’ Association of Ireland.

13.30: Finance and Public Expenditure:

Engagement on Banking Issues: 1:30pm — 4:00pm AIB; 5:00pm — 6:00pm Bank of Ireland; 6:00pm — 7:00pm Permanent TSB.

13.30: Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media:

Minister Catherine Martin is in to discuss the report on the future of media which has yet to be published.

13.30: Comhchoiste na Gaeilge:

‘Ag Spreagadh Fhoilsitheoireacht agus Léitheoireacht na Gaeilge’.

  • An Áisíneacht Dáileachán Leabhar (ÁIS).

13.30: Transport and Communications:

Issues impacting the Taxi Industry.

  • Representatives from National Private Hire and Taxi Association.
  • Representatives from Taxi Alliance of Ireland.
  • Representatives from Tiománaí Tacsaí na hÉireann.
  • Representatives from Irish Taxi Drivers Federation.

17.30: Budgetary Oversight:

The updated economic and fiscal position in advance of Budget 2023 and additional one-off measures for 2022.

  • Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance.
  • Michael McGrath, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

17.30: Agriculture, Food and the Marine:

Nitrates Derogation & Nitrates Action Programme.

  • Representatives from Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.
  • Officials from Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
  • Officials from Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.