Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I support this well placed amendment which recognises the need to provide protection for the consumer. In the past 12 months Members on this side of the House have repeatedly raised concerns that consumers' interests were second to all others. At one stage an increase was proposed in electricity and gas prices when the gas product was available free on the London market, yet no one took a blind bit of notice. The question as to why, in the face of downward international price trends, it was impossible to reverse the trend in such a small market was raised with the Commission for Energy Regulation. One brave Minister even told the House that he agreed with the proposal to raise prices.

The amendment must be taken on board, particularly when two jurisdictions come together to provide a single service for a small market. I had hoped these amendments would be taken on board on Committee Stage. However, the Minister of State was not in an accommodating mood then and we felt dejected. Now that the guillotine will be introduced for the Bill, the sharpness of the moment does not impress us. The guillotine was introduced by a medical doctor in order to ease the pain of those who disagreed with the French revolutionary administration of the time. I am not so sure it did and it certainly does not on this occasion.

We have pointed out that the regulatory system, as it stands, does not do this, a problem that must be addressed. There is a multiplicity of ways by which the interests of the electricity consumer can be protected; for example, through strengthening the integrity and security of the grid. If the grid's integrity is brought into question, the consumer will either have or not have a supply. Consumers in both jurisdictions must have ready and reliable access to electricity supplies at all times.

What is to prevent the same situation that occurred last summer when the prices for the consumer defeated the laws of gravity and went up when internationally they were going down? It is difficult for Members to explain the rationale of this to the public, particularly when they examine the international markets and come to their own conclusions. The amendment appropriately addresses the problems I have highlighted.

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