Is the Government emergency ready?

Sir, – Most households have received the Be Emergency Ready booklet. However, I wonder if our Government is emergency ready.

The impact of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the Iran war in 2026 has a single feature in common: a sudden and sharp reduction in the supply of fossil fuels that forces up energy prices and is causing an indefinite cost-of-living crisis.

Facing into winter, one in seven households are in arrears with their electricity bill. Ireland already has the most expensive household electricity rates in the EU, which is about 40 per cent above the EU average.

It is almost certain that fossil fuel prices will remain high. The fuel protests in April brought the country to a standstill and briefly threatened the stability of our democracy.

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This energy crisis is a national emergency and should be treated as such. The priority for Ireland must be to do everything possible to develop and roll out a plan to become energy independent (focused on wind and solar) and quickly reduce our dependence on the importation of fossil fuels. – Yours, etc,

MARK FOX,

Dublin 18.