John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

A reduced rate applies to electricity and all forms of heating fuels. This rate is well below the rates applied to such products in the vast majority of EU member states. VAT is reclaimable for business.

I would like to speak about pensioners and those on fixed incomes. That this is a caring Government is underlined by the generous level of support it has made available, in the form of social welfare payments, in the various budgets over its lifetime. The ESB and Bord Gáis have schemes in place to help vulnerable customers. The service will not be withdrawn if an agreed payment plan is in place. Under the national fuel scheme, various fuel allowances are available to welfare recipients and concessions are available to pensioners. A generous grant aid scheme of up to €27 million is available for domestic renewable heat technologies and Sustainable Energy Ireland's low-income housing programme to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of homes occupied by low-income households. Funding is also available for forms of energy efficiency including attic insulation, draught-proofing, hot water cylinders and cavity wall insulation.

I commend the amendment to the motion to the House on behalf of the Government, which is pursuing the development of a dynamic energy policy, in contrast to the Opposition, which is bereft of ideas about how to cope with volatile international energy markets.

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