Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senator O'Reilly raised the high cost of electricity and gas, which is unacceptable now that oil prices have been substantially reduced. I call on the ESB and Bord Gáis to consider an immediate reduction of 10% in their prices The ESB got a 17.5% increase in August and Bord Gáis got an increase of 20% in September. As Senator O'Reilly said, there have been huge reductions in oil prices so there is no good reason that these two great companies cannot play their part in assisting Ireland. The past ten or 13 years have been very good for them, as they have been for all companies, during the Celtic tiger economy, parts one and two. These companies have been exemplary in working for the national interest, particularly the ESB which has had a huge role in the economy over the years. I make that call on them today. I also call on the regulator to state why there cannot be a reduction of 10% in prices in the early new year, given that oil prices have gone down to the current low level.