Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

On Second Stage Senator Doherty and I referred to fuel poverty and the report from the Institute of Public Health which stated Ireland had the highest levels of winter mortality in Europe with an estimated 2,800 more deaths over the winter. Accordingly, 44% of these excess winter deaths are directly associated with poor housing standards, people living in poor, damp and thermally inefficient houses.

I feel strongly about the vulnerable in our society. It is not acceptable that some people are living in cold and damp conditions.