Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Ó Domhnaill's amendment. The ability to pay should be taken into account and is taken into account in the billions of euro of tax money that goes from households into the system. People have a tax free allowance and there was a 20% rate charged on medium incomes and a top rate. The principle enunciated by Senator Ó Domhnaill is a good one.

People know there is no role for the National Consumer Agency in this as that has been ruled out of order. There is no role for the Competition Authority either and we do not know the price people will be charged, because the Minister has not told us. We do not know how much of a free allowance will be given. I suggested it should be 100 litres, but that was rejected. It would be a surprise if it would be more than 100 litres a day and as the 100 litres has been rejected, we can presume what it is intended to award is less than that. The consumer is completely unprotected in this Bill and by the Minister of State's presentation of it. We need some protection for consumers because there has been too much secrecy, obfuscation, concealment and unwillingness to allow any consumer element into the legislation at all. That is unsatisfactory. Senator Ó Domhnaill is to be commended for trying to open up some principles here, because what has been happening up to now is unsatisfactory.