Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support my colleague, Senator Doherty, in her request about St. John’s Ambulance.

People have complained to my office about not getting meter-read bills in recent months. I call on people to read their own meters and send in a proper reading because if the meters are not being read and the bills are being overestimated, then people will be charged at the higher rate. We know that rates will go down. To get the refund, people will need to make sure that they have their readings done properly and they are not overcharged. I warn people to do that and to read their meter. If their bill has been overestimated, they should send in a proper meter reading. If it underestimated, they should say nothing. They have been paying too much for the last number of months. That is my advice for today. It is very important.

Some weeks ago, my colleague Colm Markey MEP and I travelled to the Klasmann-Deilmann peat factory on the Westmeath Longford border. It brought back to me the good work done by my colleague, Senator Doherty, on the legislation that needs to be brought in for an exemption in respect of the rules brought in, the High Court orders and the companies that have been shut down from producing peat and the need for us to import peat. I ask that the legislation be looked at again. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, is bringing local businesspeople to court. A number have been before the District Court recently. I know a businessman from my own locality in Longford. There are two folio numbers and two owners to the bogland yet he has been hauled in front of the courts again at a substantial cost to defend himself. I ask that this be highlighted and that the EPA desist from prosecuting people who are legally earning a living. We really need to look at the legislation that was before this House before and put an exemption in until 2030 as was part of the legislation brought forward by Senator Doherty.