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

Economic recovery, but for who? Tens of thousands of pay-as-you-go gas and electricity customers are yet to be convinced that the Government has a plan to protect them from disconnection this winter. Meanwhile, PrepayPower made profits of €14.2 million in 2020, up 27% from the previous year. It is majority-owned by Ulric Kenny, who increased his wealth by €30 million in 2020. A major shareholder is Andrew Collins. According to The Timesrich list, he made his third fortune from PrepayPower and is reported to have spent €1.7 million on an engagement ring back in 2014, when the country was reeling from austerity. The other big prepay energy company, Pinergy, is owned by Peter Coates, whose family are listed as the 16th wealthiest family in the UK, worth €10 billion, and their wealth increased by more than €200 million last year. PrepayPower is clearly a mechanism for transferring wealth from ordinary householders to the rich. Why will the Taoiseach not stand up to these profiteers this winter?

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