Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I get what the Deputy is asking. Relating to the function of the CRU, it has a lot of responsibility. It is an independent regulator. We have to assist it in doing its work. The Deputy asked if we need a task force. Yes, we do. This is not a task force that I am asking to go off and spend two years working on this. I have established it and chaired the first meeting. It has good people from right across the sector, from the energy generators, to CRU, my Department, the Department of Finance, the Department of public expenditure, etc. It has a work-like focus on this and will work with me on options on an interim basis before the budget.

On switching, I am not saying that everybody is going to be able to switch all of the time. Some of the savings available, depending on which energy company a person is with, are substantial. We have to make sure that people are aware of that and what role the Department or the CRU can have in relation to advertising the need to have that information with people. There are savings in the hundreds of euro for people. I am aware-----