Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)

This is a very timely debate as we are beginning to move into autumn nights with the cold winter ahead. We had a very good discussion a number of days ago on disconnections with the stakeholders in the industry, namely, Bord Gáis, Airtricity and the ESB. The regulator was also present. We were presented with options for a number of solutions, one of which is a system of paying upfront, which is being used by the ESB. Airtricity proposes a swipe card, a little similar to a pay-as-you-go card for call credit.

I would like to see the industry ensuring a level playing field between all of the companies. At present, there seem to be different standards for different companies and the fact that we have two State companies does not mean that people should be given a free licence not to pay their electricity bill. Some people are using the recession for debt hopping. I made the suggestion that the regulator should get involved or find out whether it is permissible to allow information to flow from one company to another regarding any outstanding amount on a bill if somebody changes from one operator to another. The main issue that came out of that debate was to ensure that we have in place structures to facilitate people who are unable to pay their electricity bill rather than those who choose not to pay. We all accept that if we facilitate those who do not want to pay their bill for the wrong reasons then everybody else will end up paying more. That would be particularly unfair. We were told last December in the budget for 2010 that the Minister would put in place a structure to facilitate those people through a vouched system. This has not happened and this is wrong.

Another matter with regard to disconnection and reconnection is the charge involved which comes in at approximately €400, including VAT. The Government is getting its slice from people who are misfortunate enough to find themselves in the difficult circumstances of not being able to pay their bill. We have to ensure these issues are resolved.

The installation schemes are a big help and the ESB must be commended for providing €3 million in this regard. Bord Gáis also operates installation schemes. Amazingly, the Government returned €35 million to the Department from the insulation grants made available.

I know I am jumping about, but I have only five minutes and I want to refer to the carbon levy. Introducing a carbon levy at this time is madness. We in this country have an obsession with process and we will now charge elderly people and those experiencing fuel poverty a levy to stop them using fuel which they require to remain warm. I view this as Dickensian at the end of the first decade of the 21st century. This is not 1810 or 1820; it is 2010 moving towards 2011.

For anybody to consider forcing the ESB or Bord Gáis to spend approximately €40 million each changing their name and brand is the highest form of madness in this economic climate. It is something to which no sane person in this Chamber could put his or her name. I call on whoever made this decision to cop on and stop this process. We should not waste money. It is hard won and we will find out in the first week in December how hard that is. Let us not waste it.

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