Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail)
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I will raise two issues. My colleagues raised a number of concerns. For the general public and the people who contact us every day, we need to send a message out about the timeline for investigation, a matter the Chair raised. It is a fair question. Surely the CCPC representatives can give us a timeline. We are now at the end of March. They should be able to say it is going to take two months, three months or six months. That is fair question that needs to be answered. Otherwise, we are all wasting our time.

I will also raise an issue that has been brought up this morning and which has come across in the discussion, which has been helpful. Based on the information currently available, it certainly seems there are going to be further significant increases in fuel costs and energy costs throughout the year. None of us can see into a crystal ball but we can consider where we and Europe as a whole are. At this stage, people are at their wits' end. We all see it across communities, particularly in my own community in west Galway. The increase proposed in the carbon tax for 1 May needs to be deferred because it is just not possible for people to pay. A family was on to me yesterday with regard to home heating oil. They filled their tank fully for €600 less than 12 months ago but could only fill it halfway yesterday for the same amount of money. I am asking for the witnesses' opinions on those two issues, if they will give them to me. I will leave it at that for now.