Minister O'Brien chairs National Energy Affordability Taskforce meeting to consider affordability-related implications of the conflict in the Middle East
- Published on: 20 March 2026
- Last updated on: 20 March 2026
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien today chaired a meeting of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) to assess the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on energy affordability in Ireland, as well as to ensure that government is fully informed of ongoing development in global energy markets.
The meeting brought together senior representatives from across government, the energy sector, and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities. Guest speakers from the International Energy Agency (IEA), ESB, and the Electricity Association of Ireland also presented at the meeting. Discussions covered the macro implications of the conflict for global energy markets; current supply and pricing conditions across oil, gas and electricity in Ireland; customer support measures in place; and the European response to the crisis.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister O'Brien said:
"This government understands the pressures families and businesses are under, and I have engaged with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste in recent days on a government response to the areas with the most acute pressure. This will be finalised next week and will set out an intervention which will be on a time bound basis, given the ever evolving nature of this situation."
"This crisis also underlines, once again, why we must accelerate the deployment of renewables across all sectors, continue to invest in our grid, and continue to invest in retrofitting. We will not insulate ourselves from future price shocks unless we reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels. The government is committed to doing that in a way that protects households, businesses and the economy."
The Taskforce meet again next Thursday, 26 March.
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Notes to the Editor
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce was established last June to identify and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households and businesses. It is chaired by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien. The NEAT has met on a number of occasions with the first report of the Taskforce, published last November, helping to inform key aspects of Budget 2026, including an extension of the 9% VAT rate that applies to gas and electricity.