Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue has come to light in respect of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and what it has stated about gas and electricity prices. The society is engaging with people and their bills. Information has come to me in recent days in respect of Bord Gáis Éireann having a difficult relationship or making it difficult for families to operate pay-as-you-go meters and almost trying to disown them or get out of the deals they have done with the people involved. I call on the Minister to take up the matter with Bord Gáis Éireann because the information I have is that the company is putting them at arms length and seeking to get rid of those customers who are in difficulty and who are relying on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and others to try and make their bills.

The fundamental issue I have, which I have raised several times, is that we have seen international prices change and so on. Is the Commission for Energy Regulation doing its job properly in allowing these companies to get increases? It is high time that we had a full review of the matter. Certainly, there is evidence in respect of the companies getting a bigger increase than they sought. We need to face this down because there is a crisis.

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