Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Ó Brolcháin for engaging in the debate and I will respond to the points made by him. With respect, Members on his side of the House are missing the point, as has the Minister, Deputy Ryan. If the Senator reads the motion carefully, he will see that it draws attention to the hardship experienced by householders and businesses in meeting their energy bills. That is what it does. We have asked the Minister to consider postponing the PSO levy until this issue can be reviewed or until such time as the recession has come to an end and there is stability in the economy. Small businesses and householders cannot afford to pay the increased electricity costs.

A number of attempts have been made to misrepresent the Fine Gael position, including by the Minister. I want to make it clear that it is not only Fine Gael who is stating this. Mr. Barry O'Leary, the head of the IDA, has stated Irish energy prices are too high and that the high cost of energy acts as a barrier to growth and is impeding the country's ability to attract more international business. On 10 August Mr. Mark Fielding of ISME stated the levy was an additional cost on business and that our electricity prices were already 15% ahead of the EU average, which puts us at a distinct disadvantage with our international competitors, as it puts further pressure on Irish jobs and livelihoods. I do not know what statistics the Minister quoted because the EUROSTAT statistics dated May 2010 clearly indicate that of 31 countries Ireland has the fifth highest domestic electricity prices in Europe and the sixth highest business prices. This is not the time to increase energy costs.

I acknowledge the investment made in electricity networks and infrastructure. Investment in interconnectors should continue, a matter about which I spoke earlier. Work on the east-west interconnector is progressing and there should be further investment in a ring-main interconnector to mainland Europe. We would then have energy security and real competition and it is possible we would not have to build nuclear power stations. However, we would be able to buy cheaper nuclear energy supplies. If we generate large amounts of energy from renewable resources, we can export supplies to the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. It is our job in opposition to make these points and highlight matters of concern for individuals and businesses. In our excellent NewERA policy document we show new ways of finding capital to invest in infrastructure that would ensure security and competitiveness in the Irish energy sector.

Will the increase in the PSO result in an increase in household bills of 5%? Words of sympathy are no good because people have been put to the pin of their collar. The Minister mentioned a new code of practice in disconnecting customers, something I welcome. It should be robust, firm and flexible to protect, in particular, domestic householders who are struggling. The Minister attached much of the blame for the PSO levy on the regulator. The Minister has discretion to postpone the levy by way of a statutory instrument until individuals and businesses are in a better position to pay their electricity bills because they are certainly struggling.