Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

The Minister must recognise that this is a grossly inadequate response to what is a real and extensive problem. I ask him to recognise that the impact of fuel poverty is very severe. It can and does take human life. On this island, it is reckoned that approximately 2,500 lives are lost in winter.

A fuel poverty strategy is in place in Northern Ireland. Does the Minister not accept that he has a particular responsibility to protect those vulnerable people who will simply not be able to heat their homes this winter? I ask him not to be so coy when it comes to giving information. We all know that Bord Gáis is talking about an increase of up to 20% and that the ESB is talking about something similar. In respect of petrol and diesel prices, will the Minister look to the example of Australia where a petrol commissioner has been appointed to take on the oil companies? Has the Minister dealt with the mystery of why diesel is still more expensive than petrol? Will he state how he intends to reduce the impact on people on low incomes and indeed people on incomes that are not necessarily that low because the pool is increasing all the time? These are the people directly affected by the steep rise in utility and petrol costs which we will see over the coming winter and which needs to be prepared for now and not left on the long finger.

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