Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I support what Senator Ryan said about beefing up the inspectorate division. There has been a dramatic expansion as a result of Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian and many other nationalities coming to Ireland. In every rural town there are workers from those communities. While everybody has focused on the position of Irish Ferries because of the numbers involved how can we ensure there is not mass exploitation throughout the country of many of these workers who have language difficulties? I agree with the Senator that if they are beefing up the inspectorate there are people with different language skills who can communicate with the new communities.

In regard to the ESB and the expansion on the east coast of urban communities radiating out into the countryside I am appalled at the standing charge on the ESB bill, of which I was not aware. There is a standing charge of €94 for those in rural areas and a standing charge of €52 for those in urban communities. It has been discovered with the mushrooming of populations in rural areas that many had been paying the rural charge. The ESB has said it will take action at the end of next year with a view to rectifying the bill, whether rural or urban. To wait until then could be deemed as sharp practice. It should act now to rectify the position. The public service obligation on a bill which imposes an extra charge on all consumers is an aberration in this day and age. The energy regulator has said this is anti-competitive. It is up to the Minister to remove that public service obligation and reduce ESB bills for consumers.