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

I thank the Deputies present and the Minister for their contributions to the debate. While acknowledging in my opening remarks that a code of conduct has been put in place by the Commission for Energy Regulation, we need to move beyond this and put the code on a statutory footing, which is the purpose in my bringing forward the Bill. We are all aware of what has happened in situations where codes of conduct for various other sectors, including the banking sector, have not been put on a statutory footing. It is important that such codes be put on a statutory footing at this stage.

I welcome the comments of Deputies Michael Colreavy and Michael Kitt on the Bill and the issues arising for elderly persons and others in paying energy bills. However, the kernel of the Bill is that the code of conduct for this sector be put on a statutory footing. I am disappointed that the Government does not agree. I could ream off many codes of conduct put in place but not adhered to because they had not been placed on a statutory footing. I am disappointed that the Government does not propose to progress the Bill, which is commonsense legislation which seeks to ensure consumers most in distress would derive some comfort from the legislative process.

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