Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Spiralling energy costs are affecting households throughout the country. In fact, recent figures from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland reveal that electricity prices in this country are now 4% higher than the European average. In some cases, indeed, they have jumped to more than 14% above the EU average. The Commission for Energy Regulation is responsible for controlling energy prices. Not only does that body appear to be above question, but the Government has given it additional powers to decide on the cost of water for every household in the country. This is an organisation that has everything but the genuine concerns of the consumer at heart.

I have called on previous occasions for either the Minister or the CEO of ComReg to be brought before this House to explain why it is increasing the cost of energy to consumers at a time when taxes are rising and wages are reduced. At the same time, the Government itself, through a public service obligation, is charging every household in the country a flat rate on every electricity bill, the benefit of which goes directly to wind farm developers to pay them for when they are not making money. In the past three years, the Government has allowed €140 million collected from households in the country to be transferred in this way. It is absolutely disgraceful.

Last night, the Minister of State, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, when responding to an Adjournment matter, tried to defend the indefensible on behalf of the Government, developers who are making money at the expense of ordinary consumers. The Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, needs to get a life and a grip of his Department and to stop being in cahoots with the developers who are making billions out of wind energy. While the Leader is not responsible, I appeal to him to invite the Minister in to the House to advise us as to why he is standing idly by when money is being transferred to those who do not need it while it is taken from those who cannot afford to give any more.