Debate contribution: Energy Security: Renewables

Debate contribution by Mr Colm Gildernew on 24 March 2026.

MLA: Mr Colm Gildernew
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 24 March 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Energy Security: Renewables
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5463730

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-Leas-Cheann Comhairle.
While the DUP was in Washington, cosying up to Donald Trump and his cronies, the US military, along with Israel, continued its relentless bombing campaign in Iran. That war, which has killed thousands of innocent civilians, including girls who were going to school, is a clear violation of international law and has been widely condemned by the United Nations and the international community, yet, once again, the DUP finds itself on the wrong side of history, acting as a cheerleader for imperialist wars. Not only have the illegal and unwarranted US and Israeli attacks on Iran caused untold devastation and destruction to innocent civilians, they have disrupted the global supply of energy. As a result of those attacks, millions of families and businesses around the world face huge spikes in their household bills, including many households in the North. As we know, the North relies heavily on home heating oil. The latest statistics show that prices have more than doubled since the start of that illegal war. That is having a devastating impact on families, many of whom are struggling to pay their bills. Those families need support, and they need it now. During the cost-of-living crisis, when we last saw price hikes of such magnitude, the British Government stepped in with a significant amount of funding, which the Executive used to support the least well-off. The British Government's decision to allocate only £17 million to the North this time is shamefully inadequate. They need to step up to the plate and provide substantially more funding that is meaningful. That said, we need to ensure that the £17 million that is currently at the Executive's disposal gets out the door and into the pockets of those who need it most as quickly as possible. Despite the attempts of the Minister for Communities to dodge his responsibilities in that matter, the job of getting that funding out the door clearly lies with him. At the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, former Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey came forward with an energy payment support scheme that delivered a one-off payment of £200 to those most in need. The Department for Communities recently published the warm healthy homes strategy, which has an entire section dedicated to protecting consumers from high energy costs. The Minister needs to urgently come forward with a plan to get that funding out to the families who are most in need of it. Those families do not have the luxury of waiting any longer for support.
I am coming to the end of my remarks. Any further delays will be catastrophic. The Minister for Communities must make it an urgent priority without any further delay.

454 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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