Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Deputy Leader arrange for a debate on the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, in light of its decision to permit Bord Gáis to increase gas prices next year by an average of €13 per household? My worst fears are not being allayed. Irish Water is only consulting the CER on the prices that consumers will pay for water. Year on year, the CER has allowed electricity and gas prices to increase substantially. The House must debate the role of the CER, its functions and powers and why it appears to be above questioning by the Oireachtas. I ask that such a debate be organised as quickly as possible, given the new water charges being placed on households.

I refer to the major difficulties being faced by individuals with the Department of Social Protection, a Department headed up by a Labour Party Minister. Individuals who have been in receipt of disability payments, invalidity pension payments and other illness-related payments for many years are now being reviewed and even though their medical circumstances have deteriorated, the payments are being withdrawn. This is a cosy little arrangement by the Minister for Social Protection who is not changing the goalposts and not cutting the schemes but the officials in the Department will tell one unofficially that they have been told to cut back, and they are cutting back on the sick, the disabled and the elderly. It is a disgrace. The Minister for Social Protection must come to this House and explain to us the reason that is happening. I will give the Leader concrete evidence of cases where it is happening. I ask that the Deputy Leader liaise with her colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, and arrange for her to come to the House for a wide-ranging debate on the goings-on in her Department.