Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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If people lose their jobs, as a lot of people did during this period, the idea that they would not care about electricity prices seems a bit bizarre. They will have less income so clearly every bill they have will be more impactful and they will be more concerned about it. I am somewhat sceptical about the idea that unemployed people would say not to worry about them and to take their money, whether €50 or €25 a year, and give it to big corporations.

Does the Minister of State feel a bit like a mudguard here? He was asked earlier about the rationale at the time and, in fairness to him, he can only speculate. The senior Minister was the person who made the decision and signed the letter at the time, yet the Minister of State has been sent here to answer these questions. He is obviously less able to answer them than the senior Minister would be. Does the Minister of State not think the senior Minister should have been here and that he has been put in a difficult position?