Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I still believe last week's measures will have a detrimental effect on many vulnerable people. In her earlier response pertaining to the issue I refrained from asking a second supplementary question, because I wanted to put this question in context further to the answer just given. The Minister mentioned in her earlier response that this was a legacy issue upon which the Government was forced to act and the Tánaiste said the same thing in the Chamber last week.

Is it not a fact that the previous Minister met providers and other stakeholders to secure a better deal on electricity and communications elements of the household benefits package, which would have been a win-win situation? As the Minister said, we are paying approximately €500 million per annum in guaranteed payments and it was not unreasonable to seek a discount of approximately 10% which would have resulted in savings for the Exchequer but would not have affected the package of benefits. This is even documented on page 24 of the budget brief for 2011 from the Department of Social Protection. In the context of those savings being sought, which were not pursued by the Minister or her officials on the Minister assuming office - she took the soft option of informing the House it was a legacy issue - is the Minister willing to confirm that the previous Government at no time proposed the reduction in the free electricity units and had instead proposed a reduction similar to the Eircom reduction to be negotiated with the electricity suppliers?

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