Marianne Heron

As I See It

Marianne Heron Energy: are we powerless against providers?

Is all this gloom and doom about energy poverty and soaring cost of living getting you down? It did me at rst: I imagined myself watching that gizmo in the electricity meter going round and round as I tried to discover which appliance was treacherously clocking up my bill — the pump in the septic tank, the kettle or the immersion? But I don’t have to give in to a winter of discontent.

We got very used to doing what we were told by the Nanny State during the pandemic. From cutting o social contact to wearing masks we were – well most of us were – compliant. Now we are faced with a new threat. Day after day we are warned about the threat of doubling and trebling energy bills. Too often the reaction is to run crying to nanny to plead for handouts.

Yes, of course the State should intervene to o set the impact of swingeing energy prices on the most vulnerable and help businesses to keep running. But just as urgently the energy market, which is getting away with murder, needs to be tackled.

In the midst of all this hysteria about the cost of living let’s not fall into what author Martin Amis called “a moronic inferno”, explaining it as “a chaotic state which no one has su cient internal organisation to resist”. All too easy to get swept along with the entitled herd expecting the State to empty out the national purse to pay for every extra drain on our pockets. In the process we are losing that ‘internal organisation’, the ability to use our autonomy to nd some solutions for ourselves.

It’s not a great idea to feel that you have no control over what happens in life and to give in to a feeling of victimhood. ose who have agency in their lives are generally happier, rather than feeling helpless. ey may still be in uenced by outside factors, but they can make choices.

So I am beginning my counter o ensive or demand reduction plan on energy, especially electricity, as requested by our Minster for Turf Prevention Eamon Ryan who is in charge and his National Energy Security Framework – using tactics from the bad old days. ey might be small but they will make a di erence.

Internal heating – stu like porridge and hearty soups – works wonders, although I wouldn’t go so far as to add whiskey to porridge as one friend suggested. Batch cooking, making double quantities: one dish for now and one to freeze, saves both the cooker’s energy and mine. e saw will be sharpened the better to chop up freefallen timber – the price of logs has already doubled locally due to our old friend supply and demand. I will get woolly minded with cosy cardies and dig out blankets to go over my knees when working.

I’ll cook more on burners using bottled gas which is a fraction of the cost of electricity, rather than the oven and when WFH (working from home) we will cosy up in the same room with the wood-burning stove and most especially try to use power at o -peak times.

Sure you know yourself, there are loads of ways to make energy reductions.

We are putting up with these prices partly due Russian aggression and to support of the Ukrainians and democracy. But only partly: energy prices could be brought down NOW if the Government would tackle providers and the EU would intervene to x a pricing model which simply isn’t working where wholesale energy prices, including those for renewables, are dictated by the cost of gas and who is in charge of the gas pipe line supplying Europe? Putin. Our gas, though, comes from the UK.

Are electricity suppliers charging what they think they can get away with? How come Bord Gais were able to increase their operating pro ts by 74% for the rst six months this year or Energia paid out €40 million in dividends? Or how was it that the last time I switched providers (a good idea to do this every year or two) my bill came down by 40%?). And how come on the wholesale side wind energy providers (Putin doesn’t a ect our wind) were able to increase their charges seven-fold in the last two years?

Ultimately, and soon, in Ireland we need both more secure energy in the future otherwise we will face blackouts and we need rm governance of the energy sector.

“Run, crying to the Nanny State...

Natural solutions for anxiety in young children

CLAIR WHITTY

Natural solutions to help children deal with anxiety, constipation, or nightmares are just some of the questions I get asked at the shop on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, there are lots of young children who are experiencing anxiety, especially around school, and thankfully there is help available. Depending on their age, there’s supplements they can try like Magnesium, Higher Nature Balance for Nerves, or A.Vogel Passi ora, these are ones I have talked about before. ere’s also Flower Remedies and my favourite Flower Remedy is Aspen; it helps when there are feelings of anxiety which can also cause pain in the little one’s tummy. You add some drops to water or any drink. Healing crystals are popular among young children, a favourite one for anxiety is Blue Lace Agate, although any crystal they are drawn to could help. After cleansing the crystal your child can keep it in their pocket, under their pillow, or simply on a shelf near them.

Bad dreams or nightmares are tough for you and your little one to experience. Once again crystals under their pillow could help them relax. Let them choose one and see if it matches their needs, they are often drawn to the very crystal they need. Dream catchers are a good idea too, they are hung over their bed and are said to catch the bad dreams so that they don’t hurt you. e good dreams reach the sleeping child to comfort them.

Californian Poppy made by Viridian is a herbal tincture you can add to water to help them get a better night’s sleep nightmare free.

Constipation is a common problem in kids, it is often associated with lack of bre in their diet. But anxiety could also be a contributing factor. Choose Optibac Bi do and Fibre Probiotics for Constipation, or Udo’s Choice Children’s blend to help if it’s more likely to be diet, or after antibiotics. ey contain good bacteria that can support gut health. If you think constipation is associated with anxiety about having to use public toilets or fear about hurting themselves, take a look at Jan De Vries Bowel Essence. It can help them relax and feel less nervous about going to the toilet outside of their home. It can be added to a drink of any type.

Hopefully these tips will help.

Shop online@naturalhealthstore.ie Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre Phone: 056 7764538 Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie

The white haired boy

ey roared into the yard, and after much shouting and bawling, the Tans went in to their mess {cookhouse} for some grub. He heard much roaring talk of a ‘treacherous b*****d’ ‘traitor’, and ‘turncoat’. Also a snarled ‘leave ‘im there to bloody snu it.’ Steve, always on the lookout for a chance, and curious about the shouts, climbed up on the lorry, and got the shock of his life! rown in a corner, covered with blood, was a man – obviously badly injured or dead. His hands were cu ed behind his back; a locked chain looped through them, and was secured to a steel grid behind the cab. And -- he was wearing the ‘Tan uniform! But it was in bits and rags. Steve moved up close to the man, and bent down to see him more closely. After a minute or two, one eye opened, in the badlybeaten face. e lips moved, whispered: “water, lad…”

So he jumped down, got a mug that was always by the rain tank, and lled it. Back he got, on to the truck, and gently fed the water into the lips, into the parched ruined mouth, of the doomed man. After a few minutes, he’d slaked the man’s terrible thirst, and got the ghost of a smile from the wreckage of a face. “ anks, lad…..” came the faint words. “Jaysus - why are you chained up, Mister – what the hell did you do?” Steve had to gure out the garbled reply, which roughly ran: “Ah, stupid, I was. Got a letter that my girl had dumped me, stole a Lee En eld and sold it to one of your fellows, got drunk, got found out, they’ll shoot me in the morn, if I live that long. I was a traitor, lad, but I’ve killed enough people now for the King, and I’m sick of it all. I’ll be glad to go ….”

“Can I set you loose, mister?” Steve whispered back, urgently. Another wisp of a smile. “No, I’m done for; legs are shot through… not worth botherin’, anyway… Get away now, before they catch you. By God, you’re a ne little chap...”

“But what’s your name, mister – I’m Steve – I can write – can I send a message to your Mammy – where is she? Maybe tell her something from you?”

“No, lad – we lived in Yorkshire, and she’s long gone; nobody left - and it’s all up with me. You look like the little brother I used to have - he was blonde as well. Ah, he’s gone now, lost him at Flanders. Christ. When he was little, we used to call him the ‘White-Haired Boy’. Sometimes he comes to me in dreams…. I’m ravin’ a bit now, lad, not long to go … anks forever, get away with you now before they catch you”….

With that, his head fell back – and a clatter of approaching boots sent Steve running like the wind... Many years later, he went away, just before the 2nd World War, to England, and started work in the town of Coventry. Not long afterwards, the German bombers came over, and had a real go at erasing that City from the earth. e Brits were hugely upset that anyone should have the temerity to do to them what they had been doing to others for centuries - albeit they’d used cannon and battleships – and ghter planes against Iraqi tribesmen!

But that bloody Hitler! A mere Corporal! {Not a mention that he’d won two Iron Crosses for bravery in the Great War, where he was wounded - and gassed. Yep – by the Brits. Did you know that, reader?} Of course, had he been an o cer - let him bomb away! All would have been forgiven. Anyway, as usual – I wander … Moriya reckoned she’d got a message back about Steve, not long after the rst big raids. Whether it was a letter, or word of mouth from some returning worker, she never said. It could have been a - dreaded – Telegram, carried by the boy on his bike from Kells Post O ce, or a night ying carrier pigeon.. Or it could be one of her spirit friends - telepathy – or a ‘woman’s intuition.’

Maybe a mixture of them all. Moriya could tell fortunes, was often too close for comfort with her predictions. Tolerably lucky regarding the times she lived in; they used to burn women for less, the bastards.

Yes, a woman – Bridget Cleary – had been burned to death on suspicion of being a witch within twenty miles of Moriya’s home – in 1895 – when Moriya would have been fteen. Bridget was taken from her sick bed, over to the replace, where urine was thrown at her, and she was urged to “get rid of them fairies yiz’ve brought int’ll this house.” ere was a childrens ditty that ran for years afterwards: “Are you a witch or are you a fairy – or are you the wife of Michael Cleary?” After further torture, her husband burned and buried her. He reckoned she was a ‘changeling.’ e British authorities gave him a long sentence; the Church would probably have given him a medal. For killing a ‘witch’.

Anyway, back from my usual ramble… e gist of the ‘received’ message from Steve was this. He was living in ‘digs’ in Coventry, and the bombers were overhead, just about every night. His landlady, a kind woman, didn’t believe in Air Raid Shelters, and was crippled with rheumatism, so she wouldn’t even try to get to one. But she did have a well-protected deep cellar, and Steve and his fellowlodgers would carry her down there when the sirens went. And wouldn’t leave her on her own. So, they’d all six of them camp there, until the ‘All Clear’. ere was a vertical round chute channelled down from near the front door to the cellar, into which the fuel man tipped the coal.

So, using that, they could hear the ack-ack guns, the bombers, and, of course - the bombs. e local ‘Blackout Warden’ also knew of the pipe – and the people - and would sometimes shout reassurance down to them while on his rounds. More times he’d close the lid, in case of incendiaries. e particular night I have now got round to was moonlit, and the Air Raid sirens had long been wailing their sad warnings of coming death……..

To be Continued

Ned E

Disclaimer e opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily re ect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of e Kilkenny Observer.

Both the war in Ukraine and Covid have dropped back considerably in the list of top concerns (from 32% in May to 17% in August), according to a survey by Bank of Ireland’s Savings and Investment. Meanwhile, Covid has almost dropped off the list of concerns with just 3% seeing it as their biggest concern, below climate change (16%), global recession (14%) and the cost of housing (12%).

In Q3 2022, Bank of Ireland’s Savings and Investment Index dropped (to 87 in August from 90 in May), with consumers citing inflation/ cost of living as their biggest worry (29% in August v. 22% in May), a trend mirrored in similar international surveys. There has also been a significant drop in the proportion of consumers who feel that they are saving enough, reflecting the impact of rising prices and the back-to-school costs faced by many households.

The index also continued to highlight growing differences in concerns between generations (see table). Inflation and the cost of living rank highest amongst both 30-59 year olds and 16-29 year olds and while it increased significantly amongst the 60+ age group, this age bracket was alone in ranking the war in Ukraine top of their concerns.

Savings drop as consumers focus on the cost of living

Consumer attitudes to saving are changing significantly in the face of rising inflation. In contrast to the Pandemic period when the Savings Index reached a peak, the most recent survey illustrates the impact of inflation. Back in May 2020, the index for a ‘Good time to save’ reached a high of 117 whereas by August 2022 it had dropped to 92.

What’s more when asked whether it will be a good time to save in six months that score drops to 85, the second lowest level since 2019. Interestingly more people are now saving but the “savings amounts” subindex has sharply declined with less people feeling they are saving enough. The index for “Do you save” rose six points to 96 but the index for ‘savings amount’ dropped 12 points to 78, its lowest level.

The survey results continue to suggest consumers may be trying to save in the face of uncertainty but they are struggling to do so, given the rising cost of living.

SPECIAL REPORT Cost of living now tops our list of worries

Investment environmenta challenging one

Irish consumers are showing themselves to be uncertain about the economic environment and when asked whether they see it as “a good time to invest”, the responses have dropped to a level below what we saw during the pandemic and after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, 38% of people now think that they are investing “nowhere near as much as they should” the highest level since the survey began.

Con dence in retirement slips for a third quarter

When asked about nancial preparedness for retirement, the answers haven’t moved signi cantly. However Irish

Top concerns August ’22 War in (May figures in grey italics) Ukrain e Inflatio n/Cost of living Cost of housin g/rent Climat e chang e Global recessi on 16-29 year olds

21% 9% 21% 28% 26% 26% 17% 19% 8% 10% 2% 3%

30-59 year olds

29% 14% 60+ 46% 33% Overall 32% 17% 27% 32%

15% 24% 22% 29% 12% 10%

2% 3% 13% 12% 9% 14%

12% 15% 11% 16% 11% 18%

13% 11% 11% 14% 5% 2%

7% 4% 5% 3%

people are far less con dent about how comfortable they will be in retirement, with this part of the index dropping from 125 in November ’21 to 107 in August ’22. According to Kevin Quinn, Chief Investment Strategist at Bank of Ireland: “Rising in ation is having a signi cant impact on how people view their nances. So much so that despite the challenges presented by Covid and the Russia-Ukraine war, the impact of rising prices is possibly the most signi cant in the past three years in terms of how people view saving and investing. With interest rates still at low levels and in ation at c.9%, consumers clearly recognise that real purchasing power is quickly eroding and it is little wonder that it has caused people to re-evaluate. For some the environment is proving challenging enough that they have scaled back on their savings.

“Our survey also illustrated the di erent strains faced by di erent age groups. Working age and younger consumers are the most impacted by the rise in the cost of living, at least thus far. With investment markets being so volatile right now – even despite gains made in the summer months – consumers remain nervous about the wider economic environment and there is a conservative tone which re ects the conversations we are having with so many customers. In ation is also impacting how Irish consumers see their retirement years, with a lower level of con dence about how comfortable they will be in retirement.”

* e Bank of Ireland Savings and Investment Index tracks household attitudes towards savings and investment as well as monitoring their perspectives on the current and future savings and investment environment.

What next for Taoiseach Micheál Martin?

Following the Fianna Fáil think-in of two days the question being mused over is if Micheál Martin opts for foreign a airs, it will be an indication that he plans to vacate the position as party leader sooner rather than later. Kilkenny’s hurling legend Brian Cody was a guest speaker at the event.

Given the in ation crisis and the focus on the impending budget, there was no talk of leadership challenges over the two days in Westmeath but it is expected at some point before December. By then, some members will be asking: what Martin’s intentions are as leader?

A number of TDs and senators, some loyal cheerleaders and some not in the Taoiseach’s camp, were certain that the Mullingar think-in would be his last as party leader.

Despite him saying that he plans to stay on as leader of Fianna Fáil and lead the party into the next election, some TDs and senators have said that it can’t be allowed to happen “for the party’s sake”.

As part of the plan, when he rotates out of the position of Taoiseach and into the role of Tánaiste, he will also receive a ministry.

While some wish for him to just take Leo Varadkar’s post as Minister for Enterprise and Trade – allowing for a seamless switch – others have said he might choose to take on Education or Higher Education, given his strong interest in both portfolios. Some speculated that the call of the Department of Foreign A airs – one he served in before and speaks very fondly of – will be too tempting for him to turn down.

“If he chooses foreign a airs, that will be a clear indication that he plans to head o as party leader and perhaps take up a job in Europe,” one TD said.

Another said he might have “no choice” but to take on the ministry after Simon Coveney, saying it would mean Fianna Fáil would have input into matters in Northern Ireland, along with the Department of An Taoiseach. e job would require him to be out of the country a lot, which would give backbenchers ample opportunity to formulate a push against the leader and get a successor ready.

Regarding the break away the Fianna Fáiler inner snactim, some who have already spoken out publicly about their concerns and who held a private meeting away from ministers and the party leader in July are understood to “keeping the head down” until after the Budget.

It is likely another meeting could take place in October, after the party’s Ard Fheis which is taking place after the Budget.

It is believed that some were unhappy with the structured nature of the party think-in, instead wanting more time to discuss the direction of the party. e Taoiseach has rejected internal party criticism over

his failure to facilitate the backbench meeting. Speaking to reporters, Mr Martin said the public was not interested in “excessive navelgazing” by political parties, saying that the people wanted the country “sorted out”. Guest speaker Brian Cody told politicians they should Given the in ation crisis and free themselves of egos, something the Taoiseach was keen to mention in passing. Others were equally keen to mention that Cody managed the Kilkenny county team between 1998 and 2022, retiring only this year. Perhaps Martin wanted advice on how to stay on in a job for so long, joked some party members.

be allowed to rotates out of the position of Taoiseach and as Minister for Enterprise and Trade – allowing for a seamless switch – others have said he might choose to take on Education or Higher Education, given his strong interest in both portfolios. Some speculated that the call of the Department of Foreign A airs – one he served in before and speaks very fondly of – will be too tempting for him to turn down.