TDs and senators seek gas and electricity price freeze
The call comes as business and domestic customers face a possible 5.8% increase in electricity costs and a 4.2% rise in gas prices from January 1, having already endured increases of 17.5% and 20% respectively in September.
Members of the Oireachtas committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment voted unanimously for a motion by Fianna Fáil Senator Donie Cassidy urging the energy regulator to impose a moratorium for the next 12 months.
Committee chairman, Labour deputy Willie Penrose, said he was perplexed by the indications from Bord Gáis and the ESB that they would seek further increases and warned it could be the final straw for many businesses already suffering from the economic downturn.
“The price of oil has come down from over $100 a barrel to $65. There doesn’t seem to be any merit in looking for prices to rise,” he said.
“In the manufacturing area, any increase in energy costs is just another blow that could be fatal.”
Meanwhile, a report from leading energy experts at Sustainable Energy Ireland revealed only 3% of all the power used in Ireland last year came from renewables.
The study also revealed less than a 10th of the electricity used in homes and businesses is eco-friendly.
Ambitious Government targets aim for 15% by 2010 and 40% by 2020.
Brian Motherway, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) spokesman, urged more effort be made to improve grid links for green energy providers.
“The Renewable Energy in Ireland report suggests it is very possible to meet our 2010 renewable electricity target,” Mr Motherway said. “But we cannot become complacent.”
The committee also heard from the managers of the Guaranteed Irish symbol, who said they faced a constant struggle to maintain the symbol’s prominence on Irish goods and services despite the fact that research showed 90% of consumers recognised it and 84% were influenced by it when choosing which product to buy.
“The Celtic Tiger brought prosperity but it as negative for Guaranteed Irish. We have an awful job trying to persuade people that our symbol is worthy of display,” said director Tom Rae.
He also said lack of resources — the symbol is managed by himself and two part-time staff — meant it was not possible to bring on board some producers who might otherwise be obvious targets.
He was responding to questions by Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary as to why the symbol was not used by companies like Cappoquin Chickens, which had to be rescued from liquidation last month and which had complained that they had no way of letting Irish consumers know their product was Irish and so could not make it stand out from the many imported chicken products.
Mr Rae said he did not have the staff to police the production systems in the chicken industry to determine if the produce met the criteria that it was at least 50% Irish. “We don’t deal with what we call wet food products — mainly chicken and meat — because we simply have not got the resources.”
He said he would welcome an arrangement where Bord Bia would police and approve the industry for Guaranteed Irish so that the symbol could be awarded with confidence.
