Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A key part of reducing our emissions is taking steps to ensure we reduce the demand side of things. Some 1.2 million smart meters have been rolled out so far across Ireland. Only 80,000 of those consumers are availing of smart tariffs. That is approximately 6% or 7%, which is far too little. A big part of the problem is the fact the night-time rate begins at 11 p.m. when nobody wants to turn on appliances, or have their washing machine or dishwasher on, because it causes disruption, especially for those who may have children in bed. It is a big issue. I ask the Taoiseach what I asked the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, yesterday. Will it bring that time forward to 8 p.m., make sure more people avail of the smart tariffs and the cheaper tariffs, and move away from the high-peak demand between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.? It makes sense. It would reduce demand at peak times but, most importantly, it would save people money in the long run. They would be able to opt for those cheaper tariffs. The Taoiseach's intervention could encourage the CRU to bring forward that cheaper night-time rate.

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