I am probably repeating it but surely it is long past the time that Government takes action to protect workers and families from spiralling energy costs. People tell me they are sick and tired of hearing that wholesale electricity costs are going down while their household bills are still eye-wateringly high. One of the main aims of this Sinn Féin legislation is to empower the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, to monitor wholesale and retail prices in the energy market and strengthen its powers to monitor anti-competitive behaviour of gas and electricity suppliers. Who would be opposed to that? The CRU must have a greater role in consumer protection and much stronger powers to address energy affordability. Otherwise, what is the point? Being told that the electricity prices are going up and going down without any power to effect change is meaningless and only leaves consumers feeling utterly abandoned. As we speak, hundreds of households are being disconnected each month for falling into arrears on their energy bills. There are over 300,000 households now in energy arrears. That is one in six or one in seven. We all know these people. Simply lighting and heating their homes is becoming increasing unaffordable for many families. Irish workers and families are tired of being ripped off. The cost of electricity in Ireland, as others have said, is 40% above the EU average. How is this happening? Successive Governments have steadfastly refused to take any real action to either assist people with an energy credit or tackle the root cause of what makes electricity unaffordable. All Sinn Féin wants to do is protect energy consumers from unfair pricing, price gouging, restrictive practices and anti-competitive behaviours.

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