John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Ahern and Members of this House are absolutely correct to call out the energy companies and we should call them out every single day where we believe it is necessary. There is no doubt that they are having a very negative effect on people in their own homes and indeed small businesses. Every small business I go to to discuss their circumstances in Carlow and Kilkenny will, first, highlight the cost of energy to them. I looked at a man's budget, Mr. Paudie O'Neill in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, regarding the running of his business.

Because I was involved with that kind of business previously, I was absolutely astounded by the level of cost of energy. He had solar panels as well. He was making every effort to meet every cost that he could, but he could not deal with the energy companies. It is absolutely impossible for people in their senior years to deal with energy providers or service providers. They cannot get through on the phone. They are left waiting. The companies will not correspond by email and they take a very hard-nosed approach to collecting their money. They refuse to deal with the queries people have. If only they would do that, they might resolve some of the issues and fewer people might owe the amount of money they owe or be indebted to these companies.

I listened carefully to the Minister of State set aside everything that was done in the past including the relief for businesses and householders. I listened to what he said about the future. The past is the past; what people are worried about is the here and now. The stories I am hearing about the cost of energy would frighten you, such as older people trying to heat their homes or people who are trying to do the best they can with the money they have but who simply cannot cope. The price of a bag of coal has increased significantly, as has the price of a bottle of gas. Older people, the people I am making a case for, are reaching out for the help they need just to survive. I ask the Minister of State to deal with today, the immediate future, the immediate problems people have, and do something to stop the price gouging that is going on by every single company in the State.

We should be looking at nuclear power. We should not be afraid to debate that. There are huge problems with the legislation regarding wind farms.

See this speech in context