Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

Does the Minister accept that his desultory approach to this is insufficient to the task? People's incomes are plummeting and their utility bills are soaring. I do not know how insulated the Minister is from the realities of life but I will give a couple of quick examples in case he is not aware. Sheila's bill was €250, now it is €323. Brendan runs a business. In 2002 the bill was €800. The equivalent bill now is over €3,000. Seán's bill was between €600 and €800; he was away for Christmas, yet his latest bill was €1,250. Eileen had no Christmas tree, yet her ESB bill went up by €25. That is what people live with. For the Minister to attend the House and refer to a range of options is an inadequate response to the daily experiences encountered by people.

When can people expect the two-digit reduction the Minister has promised Will he ensure there is a price ceiling rather than a fixed price to allow, at long last, for some good value for people who struggle with their bills? For too long we have seen competitiveness sacrificed on the altar of competition. Does the Minister recognise we have to open it up in a way that meets the needs of consumers? What will the Minister do to assist businesses that cannot compete?

We have one of the highest levels of energy bills in Europe and we are operating in an incredibly difficult economic climate. Does this not require urgency on the Minister's part to deal with this issue once and for all?

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