Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I commend Deputy Durkan and the Fine Gael Party for tabling this very important motion.

Energy and energy price rises are probably the most important issues on the political agenda now and for the foreseeable future. Since 2000, householders and businesses have been hit with unprecedented increases in energy prices. Since then, there have been year-on-year price hikes of exceptional magnitude. Electricity prices for domestic consumers have increased by more than 66% overall since 2002. They increased by 13.2% in 2002, 5% in 2003, 8.6% in 2004, 4% in 2005 and 3.1% in 2006. They will increase by 19.4% this coming January. The cost of gas increased by 9.1% in 2003, 10.7% in 2004 and 25.26% in 2005. There was an astonishing increase of 34% on 31 October 2006. This has meant an incredible increase of 102% in gas prices since 2002.

Despite the bluster of the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy O'Flynn, it is clear the Irish experience of deregulation has been an unmitigated disaster in terms of securing lower prices for consumers.

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