Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

In the current weather conditions, thousands of people on low incomes are desperately worried about whether they will be able to pay their electricity and gas bills. The carbon levy was introduced in the last budget and the Government promised there would be compensatory measures for people on low incomes. That never happened. The EU and IMF agreement will double the carbon levy.

Before the Ceann Comhairle interrupts me I am allowed to ask about the programme for Government. Under the renewed programme for Government the Taoiseach made a specific commitment that a fuel poverty strategy would be published in 2009. Other countries have fuel poverty strategies which are deliberately designed to protect people on low incomes, particularly elderly people at risk of fuel poverty.

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