Ms Aoife MacEvilly:

We understand this will be really challenging for many customers like the one the Deputy outlined, and for many families and businesses. This is a real challenge for this winter and, unfortunately, probably for longer, given the high prices we are seeing. We have put in place some customer protections which, as I mentioned earlier, are one part of the jigsaw that needs to be put in place to support customers during this period. Another part is being addressed by the European Commission in its new regulation whereby the windfall gains of some generators in the market should be taken and distributed for the benefit of customers paying higher prices. That is an important measure.

We are not party to it, but we understand that the Government is looking at a cost-of-living package to support customers. We will work with it and with industry, as we did in the distribution of the electricity credit earlier this year, on any measures appropriate to the energy sector.

We would reflect on the ESRI report earlier this year looking at the best ways to target customers most in need, which probably include the person the Deputy spoke to earlier, in terms of their ability to manage costs through this winter. Some pieces of the jigsaw are not in our space but we will do whatever we can. I acknowledge this will be really difficult.