Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

It takes an appalling brass neck on the Government's part to introduce this Bill now. Who has protected consumers of petrol and diesel over the last 12 or 14 months? As prices rose ever higher, from what section of the Government or the consumer protection agencies came plans to protect the unfortunate consumer? At the same time, gas prices were coming down on world markets and in free fall on others, but in this country we defied the laws of gravity. The Government and regulator colluded to approve an increase in gas and electricity prices, the like of which had never been known before.

Who protected the unfortunate consumer in that case? No one did so, because the Government did not care. It could not care less, and the only thing that has pricked its conscious now is that it will shortly go to the people. Ministers began to scratch their heads, wondering how they could protect themselves. Without a shadow of a doubt, this Bill represents their answer. They have laboured and brought forth a mouse.

I could go on and on.

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