Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I compliment Deputy Coveney on tabling the motion. I was one of the few people who wrote to the regulator and asked him not to proceed with the second increase. I asked him to wait and have patience. I pointed out that it was not fair to the country. It was not fair to business or the poor. I sent him a second letter stating that I thought he did not do his job correctly. Then, when oil prices reduced, he was not permitted under the legislation to reverse the price increase. That is wrong and crazy. It shows how the country is and it is no wonder we are in the climate we are in at present.

The taxpayers helped to set up the ESB. Today, it puts two fingers up to the Government and the country. It is doing that every day to young couples and local authorities. Taxpayers' money went into electricity poles. However, the ESB is asking for colossal amounts of money to get them removed from roads where they may be causing a safety hazard or from other areas where young couples are seeking to build homes. The Minister should talk to the ESB. There is a public obligation and a public service element. The ESB should remove these poles, particularly if they are causing a safety hazard, without charging €20,000 or €30,000. Local authorities as one State agency should not need to pay a semi-State agency for it.

I congratulate Deputy Coveney on the motion. I have much more to say on it. It is not right that oil prices have reduced and the ESB got a price increase which it cannot reverse. To me, the regulator should not be in place. In fact, we do not need regulators. It should be the Minister who has responsibility for increasing ESB charges instead of handing over this power to someone with no responsibility to the Dáil.

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