Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Who will invigilate companies like NTL, particularly now that it is joined to the whole cable market in Ireland while being part of a large international operator? Recently, we have received bitter complaints from senior citizens and other vulnerable people about the proposed €2 extra charge per bill for consumers who will not sign up to a direct debit system. NTL has backtracked somewhat on that plan but it is also imposing a new charge of €7.68 on customers who are late in paying their bills. This morning, on my constituency rounds, a postman raised this issue with me. Nonetheless, I was not permitted to raised NTL's treatment of its customers in this Chamber last week.

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