Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When we introduced this Bill, we could not have known that when it would reach this Stage, war would be raging in Europe and energy would be more political and precarious than ever before. At that time, my party had warned about the cost-of-living juggernaut heading our way, warnings which were duly ignored and now the results of that inaction are writ large for families and households across the State, including in my own constituency of Kildare North. In the past, people forced to live on social protection and the working poor felt most of the chill during the winter months, but now families where two people are working are worried about putting on the heat when they come home from work because either a heart attack bill has already landed in the hall or they are afraid there is one in the post. The Government has literally made the State a cold house for its people.

The hardship makes our Bill all the more relevant at this time. It is unconscionable that people's electricity would be cut off in the winter months. This Bill will give the Minister the power to prevent disconnection outright. It would have been a great help to my constituent in Celbridge who was dining and reading by candlelight for the past two years, not because he was an old romantic or an eco-warrior, but because his electricity had been disconnected. A man was living by candlelight in Celbridge in the 2020s. It is just unbelievable. When I contacted Electric Ireland for him, the people I spoke to were very kind. They were excellent. His power is back on, but kindness should never decide whether, in the depths of winter, a citizen of this State can switch on a light in a room or strike a match to light a candle. That is why our Bill gives the Minister the explicit power to direct the CRU on disconnection in the winter months, during the fuel allowance season, so that people can have the necessary security and dignity, not to mention the basic services of heat, light and the ability to cook a meal for themselves. This is not the sun, the moon and the stars. This is not pampering or luxury. It is the basics of living, which people are very worried about now. It is a proper and just worry that will worsen with the effects and uncertainties of Putin's war in Europe.

In 2019, almost 10% of people experienced energy poverty. I dread to think what the number of disconnections will be for this year. In 2019, there were more than 5,000 disconnections for electricity and almost 2,500 for gas. It will be interesting to see the figures for 2022, this historic year. Other countries look after their citizens in winter. Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Canada all have such schemes in place. There is no earthly reason we cannot do it as well, especially now when people are in the vice grip of rents going through the roof, are worried about putting fuel in their car to get to work and are seeing the weekly shop adding up all the time.

These are extraordinary times. We all know that it is currently the sowing season in Ukraine. We are worried about the availability of food all across the world, so things have changed. Our Bill is about the detail of our people in winter. How we treat people is crucial. Disconnecting them in the middle of winter is not just mean; it is alienating and humiliating. It is Dickensian. People are mortified when it happens to them. They are not just disconnected from power, they feel disconnected from society and it really shakes them. I met my constituent in Celbridge a few weeks ago when I was knocking on doors and he was a new man with his electricity back on. He felt part of society again. Being able to keep the light and heat on in the winter says to people who are struggling financially that they are still one of us, and still part of us. With the huge pressures facing people now - the effects of the war on energy and the soaring prices - there will be an awful lot of poor people and an awful lot of working poor who will be struggling to pay their bills. As we face into this new and unprecedented uncertainty, at least with this Bill we can give them one certainty, which is that the Government has their back. It is just one thing, but it can make or break a person. I am long enough in the House now to know how this works, but when I saw the Government amendment I just thought of all the people who would be broken and that it could be avoided if the amendment is withdrawn and the Bill is accepted.

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