Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Price regulation ended many years ago. Suppliers must compete with each other on price and set their own prices accordingly, as one would expect in a liberalised market. The independent regulator, the CRU, has functions in regard to these matters, including consumer protection and monitoring the market more generally. I will undertake to refer the query Deputy Cahill has raised today with the CRU. I would be surprised if the Deputy has not done that already himself. If he has, I am interested to hear what it has said in response to him. The CRU has the responsibility to ensure consumer protection in this area and to ensure that consumers are protected and that energy suppliers live up to what they state on the tin, so to speak.

Deputy Cahill raised the high energy costs for businesses. I wish to highlight a scheme that is available for businesses from funding from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, through Enterprise Ireland. It is worth €10 million and can be used by businesses to improve their energy efficiency. It is totally undersubscribed at the moment. It is a very good scheme. I ask Members of the House to make sure that businesses in their respective constituencies are aware of this scheme because it will help identify where they can create energy efficiency and, accordingly, bring down their overall costs. I will undertake to refer the matter raised by Deputy Cahill to the CRU and I will report back to him.

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