Government urged to forfeit dividend

LABOUR party enterprise spokesman Ruairí Quinn has called on the government to forfeit the €77 million it is due to take in dividend payments from the ESB this year, in order to reduce the pressure on electricity prices.

Deputy Quinn said the increases announced yesterday in gas and electricity prices as penal and said that they would cause problems for both domestic consumers and commercial users. With inflation figures now at a three year high at 4.5% these increases will add yet further pressure on overall price levels.