Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I thank Deputies who have contributed to this debate and express my appreciation to them for facilitating the quick passage of the legislation. Even Deputies who have searingly forensic questions to which they want answers do not oppose the legislation per se and acknowledge that we do not have much choice but to enact this legislation in the public interest.

Deputy Catherine Murphy pointed out that she is very disappointed with the decision of the Supreme Court and Deputy Boyd Barrett reiterated that. It is not customary for somebody in my position to offer an opinion on that. Once the Supreme Court hands down a judgment, it is my job to respond. However, I will say I was surprised by the judgment. It is worth remarking that the issues here in respect of the regulator were tested in the High Court. That said, we have the decision of the Supreme Court and in the public interest it is important that it is responded to. The response is in this legislation.

Deputies raised a number of issues, some of which were pertinent to the Bill and others which are outside its remit. That is reasonable on Second Stage. In response to Deputy Collins in respect of the matters he raised with regard to fuel prices, we are effectively price takers. Fuel prices are essentially due to the rising price of gas. He set out the figures and he knows that we are significant importers of gas and that it is the rise in the gas price which is pushing up prices across Europe that is the cause of the rising prices. We seek to address this through the affordable energy strategy I published some months ago and through trying to encourage the public and everyone concerned to reduce consumption of energy and ensure better energy efficiency throughout the economy and social life. We waste an inordinate amount of energy in this country and it would contribute if we could reduce this waste. I accept the point Deputy Collins raised on fuel prices and competitiveness but we are not an oasis on our own with an indigenous supply of oil and gas. We still have to import fossil fuels and that is the reason prices have risen in recent times.

A number of Deputies, including Deputies Ferris, Boyd Barrett and McGrath raised the issue of fuel poverty. There is no doubt there is a problem of fuel poverty here. We are very fortunate to have had an exceptionally mild winter. The affordable energy strategy, which I recommend again to my colleagues, is a cross-departmental attempt by the Government to address the issue of fuel poverty.

According to EUROSTAT data, after a period of three years in which prices decreased and converged on the EU average, the figures are now going in the opposite direction across the European Union. It is not something that is under my control but it adds a premium to efficiency improvements and renewable energy.

Deputy Boyd Barrett raised a number of important questions. Whatever austerity is responsible for, it cannot be blamed for dampening down the Government's approach to the development of renewables. I do not know how he drew that conclusion.

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