Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has not ruled out the possibility that a further energy credit may be paid later in the year.
Speaking on RTÉ Prime Time, Miriam O' Callaghan told the Taoiseach that people simply can't afford to pay their energy bills following news that a 77-year-old pensioner was hit with a €1,678 electric bill.
"We have one more energy credit left. What are you going to do for these people after that," she asked.
In response, Taoiseach Varadkar admitted that people are seeing some really "eye-watering" bills at the moment.
"The energy credit is there and there will be one more, we have extended the 9% VAT rate until October and we also have the budget measures," he said, before referencing the rent tax credit and increases to welfare payments.
The head of Fine Gael and the Irish Government also mentioned a windfall tax on the big energy companies.
Interrupting him, Miriam said there would be a "cliff edge" for those in the squeezed middle who aren't on social welfare. "Could there be another energy credit, later this year?" she asked.
The Taoiseach responded: "Ya that's a possibility. The way we would fund that would be through the windfall tax on the profits of the energy companies.
"That's something that we can reinstate in the winter if the prices don't come down."
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