Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have received apologies from Senator Mark Wall.

Members participating remotely are required to be within the precincts of Leinster House.

I ask members and witnesses to please turn off their mobile phones or ensure they are in silent mode. I ask members participating remotely to please use the raise-hand function on Teams if they wish to contribute.

During the session this morning we will discuss energy poverty with the representatives from St. Vincent De Paul, on their report on energy poverty entitled Warm, Safe, Connected?.

Energy poverty is an item of the committee's work programme under our community remit. This report brings to light the evidence that energy poverty impacts some groups more than others such as low income households; one-parent families; older households; children; people who are out of work due to ill health or disability; migrant and ethnic minority households; and members of the Traveller and Roma communities.

Action on this issue is required more than ever as costs have spiralled due to the cost-of-living increases and inflationary trends. This report makes a number of recommendations that the committee would like to engage on further, in a particular new consumer protection strategy from the regulator that provides a multiannual approach to increasing protections for customers in energy poverty and for vulnerable customers.

Measures are also needed to improve the protection of customers from the threat of disconnection. There needs to be a focus on supportive communication strategies that encourages engagement and recognises that households having difficulties in meeting their energy costs might need additional assistance to engage with the energy providers concerned. Affordable and sustainable repayment solutions should be offered to anyone in arrears, with greater monitoring of those repayment plans and an increase in protection for prepay customers. Customers on prepay meters live with much higher risk disconnection from their energy supply as a result of running out of credit on their meter. This requires clear direction and innovation from all of the actors involved and should include the provision of discretionary top-ups and a targeted credit paid to prepay gas customers who are experiencing particular financial hardships.

I welcome here this morning representatives from the St. Vincent De Paul, Dr. Tricia Keilthy, head of social justice and policy, and Ms Issy Petrie, research and policy officer. You are both very welcome here this morning.

Before we start, I must explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses with regard to references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present, or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts, is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that the witnesses comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now call on Dr. Keilthy to make her opening statement.