Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I am gobsmacked by the Tánaiste’s reply. He said that ideally, it should apply to everybody. However, that implies, and he clearly indicated, that it does not apply to everybody. Who are the people it does not apply to? They are the people who have been disconnected in the past and put onto the meters and are, in many cases, the lower-income people in society. Many of them are vulnerable individuals. The Tánaiste stated that there is the fuel allowance, the community welfare officer and energy credits. That will be fine; it will get many of those people through the winter. However, it will not get all of them through the winter; in fact, there is a significant number of them who it will not get through the winter. The Tánaiste is saying that they face the prospect of their electricity supply being disconnected - not just for themselves and their partners, but for their kids. That is a scandal.

The Tánaiste asked what can be done. During Covid, the emergency credit on gas was extended well beyond the usual amount. That is something that could be done. There could be a commitment given that there will be no disconnections this winter and that this will apply, not for some but for all. That is what I am asking for.

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