Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

These times are very reminiscent of a decade ago when the troika was in town and people used to ration everything, including food. I remember families having cornflake days; that was dinner for them. I am hearing from families that they are rationing their electricity. The reality for many, and fear for many more, is that they will be left in a position whereby they have to take a decision to turn on a light or put breakfast in front of their children.

The Taoiseach gave a commitment at the weekend that disconnections would not happen. I want him to set out in detail what that means for pay-as-you-go meter users. Some 200,000 households across the State have such meters. The Taoiseach has made a commitment. When will it kick in? How will it work? I put it to the Taoiseach that the ban on disconnections needs to start now and run until the end of March. Rather than rehashing all of the global factors, could the Taoiseach kindly answer my questions and reassure families who are afraid and struggling?

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