James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I want to pause there. Unfortunately, time is running out. I want to be fair to other members.

There is an equilibrium between the loyalty value and how vulnerable individuals can be. Since the privatisation and demonopolising of the electricity network in Ireland, there are people who genuinely still do not understand that sticking with one company and not being in contract is costing them a fortune. There is an ethics issue there, because it is really hurting those who are most vulnerable. I have seen it. I would love to see that being addressed by your good selves, particularly in terms of where there is an age cut-off. As we all know, one person can be as sharp as a tack at age 105, whereas somebody in their 60s, because of medical conditions, etc., may not be as sharp. It is not clear-cut, but surely there is a common-sense point where age could be looked at in order to address that or where the companies would have to send out a proper notice that makes it very clear that a consumer is out of contract and is, as a consequence, paying a significantly higher cost for electricity.

I will finish on the business aspect. The CCPC needs to be aware of what the committee has heard. It is hugely significant. Whether it is a small supermarket in the west of Ireland or a haulier, a concrete business or any of the long list of organisations and businesses that have been in communication with us, energy costs have been high on their agendas. They are hurting. As we saw when we ran through the profits at the outset, the energy companies seem to be creaming it. We need to do something about that.