Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

They are much cheaper than in Northern Ireland because they went about their business in the right way. It is important to see people making an effort. However, the smaller shops are in dire straits. The big multiples can make money on either side of the Border and are not too worried. They will balance their books, which is all they want.

Even at this late stage, the Government can do something about this problem. It increased VAT by 0.5%. We had shown the Government how it could decrease the rate by 1% only a few months earlier but it laughed at us. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, however, could decrease the VAT rate by 2.5%. That differential is massive. I urge the Minister to examine this issue.

The energy situation is a joke. We have a so-called regulator who is independent of the House and no longer answerable to Members. Despite the price of oil falling through the floor, he has increased the price of petrol and gas. It is a joke. A constituent visited my clinic a few days ago. She is a very ill lady who is dependent on gas for central heating and cooking but she can no longer afford to pay the bill. She has now reverted to gas heaters. She puts on one bar of the heater and sits with that. As she suffers from asthmatic problems, this is the worst thing she can do but she cannot afford anything else. I beg the Minister to use the great position she holds to do something about this issue.

Finally, the health issue is a joke, with problems in the service increasing. However, look at what is happening in Northern Ireland. A Minister has taken the issue in hand, seen where cuts could be made and improved the service in a very short time. We could learn from that.

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