A group of TDs is warning that Ireland needs to act now to help people with soaring energy costs.

The Regional Independent Group will table a motion in the Dáil later on the security of our electricity supply.

It's calling on the Government to take "emergency action" to stem rising costs.

The group also believes decommissioned plants should become energy producing again using biomass.

Independent TD for Galway East Sean Canney told Newstalk Breakfast we can't wait for Brussels.

"The Government are looking at things, and what we're saying is they need to act.

"There's no point in waiting for Europe to do something.

"I was at the Budgetary Oversight Committee meeting yesterday where the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure... were there.

"Basically they were talking about they're not going to do anything in the budget - whatever money's coming from Europe won't be available until the end of the month.

"And if we have to rely on waiting like that, we're going to see businesses close."

He believes the time for talk is over.

"I would argue that we have been looking into all of these things for a long number of years, without actually making concrete decisions".

Citing an example in Galway, he said the Derrybrien plant can be re-opened in the morning.

"The Government can act tomorrow morning and they can bring in emergency legislation to temporarily re-active that Derrybrien wind energy supply facility", he added.