Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I do not know about Fine Gael's position but I believe competition helps to drive down prices and I have seen it work. Therefore, my general instinct, where possible, is to let competition work in the public interest. Ultimately it is for the CER to decide when to turn to such a competitive unregulated market. We are moving on that. We need also to move in the area of electricity, in the last band that is competitive. We are doing it on a steady basis in the gas market and that is appropriate but it is up to the CER to make the final call as to exactly when. The general policy of using competition to bring prices down is something of which I am proud and support.

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