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

It is not agreed. For the last number of weeks, we have sought answers from the Government, including the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, in respect of households that rely on prepaid meters. We have asked about a moratorium or ban on disconnection. We have offered a solution to Government which amounts to simply extending across the board a current ban that many companies operate in respect of weekends and some public holidays. We have asked, advised and insisted that happens immediately and have had no clear response. In fact, we have heard different responses from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who we were advised was doing a round of meetings and is putting some class of a plan together, and yet here we are. The weather will get colder. We will head into the Dáil recess next week and we still have had no answer. It is wholly unacceptable to all of us in this House. More importantly, it is unacceptable for those households that rely on prepaid meters. I ask the Minister to present himself and set out the plan precisely to ensure there is an immediate ban on disconnection for households that are reliant on prepaid meters.

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