Eddie Bohan (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader invite the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources here to explain why the cost of electricity has increased by approximately 13%? The ESB cites oil prices as the reason for this but it pays for oil in dollars. The euro and the dollar were almost on par up to a year or so ago. The ESB has saved over 20% on the purchase of oil because it is paying in dollars. Nobody has questioned the ESB on this and now it seeks a 13% increase which affects every family in the country. Industry too will be hard hit. I do not see the reason for this increase and it would be interesting to know why the ESB has not passed on the saving it has enjoyed for some time.