One MEP has said short-term measures to deal with the energy crisis may have to be paid for by the Irish exchequer, before funding from Brussels kicks in.
Green MEP for Dublin, Ciarán Cuffe, was speaking after the European Commission was told to come up with measures - in a matter of days - to help consumers during the winter.
Energy ministers earlier held what were described as difficult discussions at an emergency summit in Brussels.
Mr Cuffe told The Hard Shoulder he believes the measures will be a combination of funding from Dublin and Brussels.
"I think it will be both European money and local money, because that's what we see with other funds and with other decisions of the European Union.
"But I think the important thing is this has to move quickly, we can't wait until winter is almost over before we help hard-pressed consumers.
"I think it will vary from one country to another.
"The Irish budget is coming up later on this month, and I think we will see very clear announcements there - that will possibly have to be funded by the Irish exchequer in the short-term, but perhaps with European support in the longer-term."
'There will be higher bills'
Mr Cuffe said more support will be available to consumers this winter.
"When it comes down to what consumers will face: yes there will be higher bills, but there will be support and the increase in energy prices will not go as high as has been feared.
"The European Union absolutely recognises that this is a crisis, we absolutely recognise that we have to help out those who face energy poverty this winter.
"Yet we also need to wean ourselves off Russian gas - and indeed oil and gas in the longer term.
"And we have to ensure that the short-term action doesn't stop us on the road to the long-term decarbonisation".
Earlier, Energy Minister Eamon Ryan told Newstalk consumers can't afford to wait for full reform of the energy market.
"We are going to look at that reform, but the reality is that that would take a longer time; it would take up to a year.
"The electricity and energy markets are very complex - you've to be very careful in terms of how we do make sure we get the investment and we get the decarbonisation.
"So yes we're going to do that, but it wouldn't be implemented this autumn.
"And we cannot afford to - I suppose - wait for that period, and allow the existing dysfunctionality within the market to continue.
"We need other income streams to help support our people.
"So I think it's absolutely right to do this first phase approach, which is an interim approach, which we can introduce within a matter of weeks rather than months", he added.
