Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Some practical measures should be put in place to ensure people who consistently break the rules do not get a competitive advantage. I have mentioned that there are 800 such people in County Kildare, which is some indication of the extent of this problem, but we do not have a comprehensive knowledge of the level of delinquency in this area. It is extremely important we take action in this regard.

I welcome the section of the Bill relating to energy efficiency, which is being introduced on foot of an EU directive. I often wonder about the environmental and social standards and workers' rights which would be in place in this country if we were not subject to prescriptive EU directives. That is my jaundiced view.

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