‘Price gouging’ oil companies, scrambler ban, and Jessie Buckley’s ‘problematic’ dislike of cats

Plus: ‘existential dread’ for one artist after Basic Income for Artists pilot finishes

Listen | 10:29
The cost of home heating oil has risen by up to 50% since the outbreak of the Iran crisis. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire
The cost of home heating oil has risen by up to 50% since the outbreak of the Iran crisis. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has been called in to investigate complaints of “price gouging” after the cost of home heating oil rose by up to 50 per cent since the outbreak of the Iran crisis.

The Government has had the power since 2023 to impose an explicit ban on scramblers, but it did not move to enact regulations until shortly after Grace Lynch (16) was fatally injured by a scrambler in Finglas, Dublin, in January.

A disabled artist has said she is “back to worrying” about how she will be able to afford her rent after receiving her last payment under the pilot Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme.

Jessie Buckley is a marked woman now, after a November clip of her dissing cats went viral this week. Ed Power is among those wondering if the controversial take could scupper her chances of Oscar glory.

And speaking of cats, it’s all kicking off on the letters page today after a reader wrote in to express his dismay at proposals to allow pets on public transport.

Presented by Aideen Finnegan

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