Despite Ireland facing the highest electricity prices in Europe, Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien has not met with three of the state’s four largest energy suppliers in a year.
In a written response to a parliamentary question published recently, the Fianna Fáil Minister confirmed the details of his meetings, noting that retail price setting remains a “commercial matter” for utility providers.
O’Brien explained that the pricing of electricity and gas is determined by private suppliers operating under European Union regulations.
“The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within an EU regulatory regime wherein these markets are commercial and liberalised,” O’Brien said.
“The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) ended its regulation of retail prices in the electricity market in 2011. Price setting by electricity suppliers is, therefore, a commercial matter for the companies concerned.”
The Minister acknowledged that Eurostat figures show Ireland had the highest nominal electricity prices in Europe during the second half of 2025, but said that the country ranks fifth when adjusted for purchasing power parity.
Outlining his direct contact with utility providers, O’Brien revealed that his last meeting with the state’s four largest energy firms took place twelve months ago.
“On 26 September 2025, I met with the four largest energy suppliers in Ireland: Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis, SSE Airtricity, and Energia,” O’Brien said.
“I also met with representatives from SSE on 14 January, 2026. In addition to these meetings, my officials meet with suppliers on a regular basis. A key message to suppliers during these engagements is the critical importance of energy affordability.”
O’Brien added that a departmental taskforce is currently finalizing a new strategy to tackle utility costs, with proposals expected to reach the Cabinet shortly.
A Sinn Féin TD accused the Government of taking a “hands-off approach” to the cost of electricity.
Responding to the Minister, Kerry TD Pa Daly, who is Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for climate, the environment and energy, criticised the lack of contact with utility companies.
“The Minister’s failure to engage with the major energy suppliers at a time of spiralling energy costs represents a serious dereliction of duty,” Daly said.
“Once again, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are letting energy suppliers off the hook and abandoning ordinary people in the process.”
The domestic squeeze on consumers reflects wider international volatility, driven largely by the ongoing conflict in Iran and subsequent trade bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier this year, Tánaiste Simon Harris described the international disruption by warning that the current energy crisis “is the worst the world has ever seen.”
Coalition leaders have promised to unveil targeted financial relief for utility customers when the Budget is announced next month