Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague, an Teachta O'Rourke, not just for the important motion, but for all of the work he is doing. The Taoiseach spoke directly to the 378,000 people who are on prepay meters and told them that they would not be cut off, but then the Minister's party colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, appearing on a television programme at the weekend, told people that maybe they can go to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or a community welfare officer. I think he was genuine in saying that, as if it would be news to people who live on low or fixed incomes. Many of those people have already exhausted a large number of the options available to them, however, and they do not have weeks to wait for a community welfare officer to respond to them. It is cruel and unfair to tell people who are afraid that they will be cold this week - not just in December but this week - that they will not be cut off, but then to be found wanting when the mechanism for ensuring that is requested. I urge the Minister to support the motion and to think about people who are worried now, who will have to explain to their children why they cannot turn on the lights today. There is a genuine need to protect people from this energy crisis, and those who are on prepay meters are among the most vulnerable in the State. I encourage the Minister in making his remarks to speak directly to those people - not to give them false hope but to tell them what it is that he and his Government propose to do to keep the lights on so that their kids can do their homework and so that they can wash their clothes and do all of the things that people should be able to take for granted. I urge him to support the motion. That would be the kindest and most practical thing he could do and it would speak directly to the people who are depending on him to take action.

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