Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I thank Deputy Howlin. I also thank Fine Gael for tabling this motion. Listening to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and looking at the raft of different organisations that have been introduced in respect of consumer protection through the years, the Competition Authority being the overall authority but the most recent being the consumer strategy group, and the Director of Consumer Affairs, which we have had for many years, it would lead one to believe that the consumer was well protected in Ireland. However, the consumer is not protected at all.

As Deputy Howlin said, one would imagine we were living in Valhalla from listening to the Minister's speech, a Viking paradise where nothing goes wrong and everything is perfect. When something goes wrong, one has automatic access to an area where redress can be found. This is untrue. The majority of people in this country, who now work longer for the same money and diminished lifestyles, find they have no control. They believe no one has control over their costs of living. We are not speaking about commodities that are traded on a monthly market, such as oil. We are speaking about the price of electricity.

In one of the exchanges that took place, the Minister said it is about choices and that his Government puts more into people's pockets so that they can choose. It is not much of a choice if it must be between paying an ESB bill or not.

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