Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

I welcome this opportunity to contribute on the Bill. I congratulate my colleague, Deputy Varadkar, on introducing it. As he stated last night, an average of €400 per household would be saved annually if the Government made the Bill law. This would reduce the cost of doing business for struggling small and medium-sized enterprises.

Before the Minister, Deputy Ryan, left the Chamber, he told us that we should live in the real world. Small reductions mean a great deal in the real world. I can give an example. Recently, a number of people attended my clinics in west County Clare because the rent for local authority houses had increased by €5 per week. They were struggling, as the increase made a significant difference to them. They were trying to get a reduction. This is the real world. It is how people live. Increases like that are serious for those who are struggling. Given the week that is in it, a week in which €2 billion is being pumped into Anglo Irish Bank, this is ironic. Figures published today show that unemployment has reached an all-time high of 439,000.

People are angry. They did not create the mess. Everyday, I meet people who ask why there has not been a bailout for the ordinary people who are in dire straits due to these financial circumstances. Small reductions for many householders would set an example. They must deal with significant debt commitments despite being hit by job losses, pay cuts and pay freezes. In my constituency of County Clare, disposable income during the height of the boom was between 90% and 95% of the national average. Today, 96% of consumers have no choice but to reduce grocery costs, which will have a ripple effect on local businesses, many of which are barely keeping afloat.

Everyone must readjust, including Departments and Government agencies. That is what the Bill is about. Price reductions would provide much needed assistance for the hard-pressed consumer. Instead of taking this approach, the Government's policy has been to place additional pressure on people. For example, the carbon tax added to the cost of rural households' fuel bills despite rural incomes falling by 30% last year. The issue is out there.

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