Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
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I want to follow on from that point about the usage of smart meters. I get the issue of the protection of data. However, it should be possible - and maybe the CRU can explain to us from a legislative perspective if it is not - for the CRU under some programme or the suppliers, to be able to tell me the best tariff I should be on.

I used to be able to do it with telecommunications companies when mobile charges were charged very differently, and I accept that probably predates some of the data protections. I cannot understand this because when and where you use electricity is not really personal data. If someone is operating a growhouse, the reality is the gardaí will find out about it from whoever the supplier is. If there are very significant and large peaks in the use of electricity, personal data goes out the window. Would it not be better for the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities to develop a programme that assists all of us who have a smart meter to get the maximum use from it? Let us be honest - this is not in the interests of electricity suppliers. They keep me on the wrong tariff for as long as they can because they continue to benefit from it. It happens in the insurance sector. It happens everywhere. We can look at this from a decarbonisation perspective. I suggest we should force them into giving the best possible tariff to me or to whoever wants it. I would be interested in hearing Ms MacEvilly's comments on that. If I have time, I will come back on some of the other issues.