An Opposition motion seeking a windfall tax on energy companies with surging profits during a cost of living crisis has been rejected by the Dáil.
The motion was tabled by Social Democrats energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore.
However, despite support from a number of Opposition parties, a Government amendment rejecting the motion was supported by the 76 votes to 66.
This means that the original motion seeking the windfall tax was rejected, and will not become law.
The possibility of a windfall tax on energy firms due to their significant profits has been raised by the Social Democrats, Labour, Sinn Féin, the Green Party and People Before Profit-Solidarity in recent weeks and months, as a way to help address the ongoing cost of living crisis.
In particular, the parties have variously argued that there is a need for energy firms to either lower bills or pay extra taxes.
During last Thursday's Dáil Leaders' Questions debate, Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said a windfall tax is a move he was not necessarily opposed to introducing in the future.
Minister Harris also said that future moves in relation to a windfall tax would need to be carefully examined, and may ultimately be discussed at EU rather than Irish level due to the potential implications.
A number of parties argued that tax issues are a national rather than EU responsibility.
