Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Yesterday, the chief executive of An Bord Gáis said that a 40% rise in domestic and commercial gas prices is a certainty later on this year. We are facing double digit price rises in electricity, while petrol and diesel prices on the forecourts are moving relentlessly over €1.20 per litre. In that context, will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey to withdraw the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, as the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform withdrew the Criminal Justice Bill and come back to the House with an energy Bill which includes the views of consumers—both householders and businesses—on energy prices? At the moment, there is no input by householders or the business sector into energy pricing. The Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, has not done anything over the past two and a half years to bring about any change in this regard. We are facing a disastrous situation concerning energy prices. Would it not be better for the Minister to withdraw the Bill and take it back to the drawing board?

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