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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Feb 2022

Vol. 1017 No. 6

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Ba cinneadh mí-ghnáthúil a bhí ann deireadh a chur le toghcháin do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta. Sin cinneadh a thóg Rialtas de chuid Fhine Gael agus cinneadh a bhí páirtí an Aire Stáit i gcoinne. Ba cheart go mbeadh muintir na Gaeltachta in ann a gcuid ionadaithe féin a thoghadh díreach chuig an mbord. Tá sé sin fíorthábhachtach mar phróiseas daonlathach agus chun cinntiú go mbeadh an stuif a theastaíonn ó mhuintir na Gaeltachta á phlé ag an mbord. Ba chóir go mbeadh sé de chumhacht ag gnáthmhuintir na Gaeltachta a gcuid ionadaithe féin a thoghadh. Dúirt ceannaire páirtí an Aire - an Taoiseach, an Teachta Micheál Martin - go raibh sé féin agus Fianna Fáil tiomanta go huile agus go hiomlán do bhord tofa a bheith ag Údarás na Gaeltachta arís, ach ó tháinig an páirtí i gcumhacht níl feicthe agam ach moill ina leith. Caithfidh an Rialtas é seo a dheifriú. Tá muid ag rith amach as am.

Tháinig sé chun solais ar an Luan nár chuir eagraíocht ar bith tairiscint isteach do chomórtas an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais i leith athbhreithniú ar thoghcháin Údarás na Gaeltachta. Dúirt Roinn an Aire Stáit go bhfuil sé i gceist aici próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí a eagrú faoina dtabharfar an deis don phobal tuairimí agus moltaí faoin ábhar a roinnt i scríbhinn leis an Roinn. Tá sé i gceist an próiseas sin a sheoladh go gairid. Tá roinnt ceisteanna agam don Aire Stáit. Cé chomh fada a thógfaidh an próiseas comhairliúcháin seo? Céard iad na céimeanna eile a bheidh á dtógáil ag an Roinn? An mbeidh toghcháin ar siúl go cinnte agus cén uair a bheidh siad ann? Táim fíorbhuartha go mbeidh na toghcháin seo á bhrú siar agus siar agus go rithfidh muid amach as am. Caithfidh an tAire Stáit a rá go soiléir go mbeidh siad ag tarlú agus tús a chur leis an bpróiseas ullmhúcháin láithreach.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis an t-ábhar seo a phlé inniu. Tá sé deich mbliana anois ó cuireadh deireadh le daonlathas taobh istigh de bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta. Sin deich mbliana ó rinne Rialtas Fhine Gael agus Páirtí an Lucht Oibre cinneadh deireadh a chur le toghcháin do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta. Le bheith féaráilte, dúirt an tAire Stáit é féin, a pháirtí agus a cheannaire go raibh siad tiomanta go mbeadh toghcháin ann do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta arís. Seo ábhar ar a bhfuil béim curtha ag Sinn Féin le blianta beaga anuas. Tá reachtaíocht foilsithe againn, a chuir muid os comhair an Tí seo blianta ó shin, agus déanfaimid arís é muna bhfuil an Rialtas seo sásta feidhmiú air seo. Tá sé seo práinneach. Gheall an Taoiseach le linn an olltoghcháin go mbeadh athbhreithniú ar struchtúr, feidhmiúcháin agus rialachais Údarás na Gaeltachta agus go mbeadh próiseas roghnúcháin agus toghcháin don bhord ina thosaíocht don Rialtas seo. Mar a dúirt an Teachta Farrell, seo an dara huair anois nár chuir aon duine isteach ar an gcomórtas le hathbhreithniú ar thoghchán Údarás na Gaeltachta. Caithfimid bogadh ar aghaidh. Tá sé deich mbliana ó rinneadh an scoilt sin idir mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus an bord atá ag feidhmiú ar son na Gaeltachta. Ó tharla nach bhfuil duine ar bith ann le hathbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar thoghcháin Údarás na Gaeltachta, caidé an plean atá ag an Rialtas anois? Níl dabht ar bith gur ceist daonlathais í seo. I mo thuairim, agus i dtuairim Shinn Féin, níl athbhreithniú de dhíth. Go simplí, caithfidh an Rialtas na toghcháin seo a chur ar bun arís agus é a dhéanamh lom láithreach. Céim siar a bhí sa chinneadh fáil réidh leis na toghcháin in 2012 agus cailleadh an nasc sin idir lucht vótála na Gaeltachta agus na daoine a dhéanann na cinntí. Tá tionchar aige seo níos faide ná Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá tionchar aige ar thodhchaí na Gaeltachta í féin. D’aontaigh Fianna Fáil linn ag an am in 2012 ach tá siad sa Rialtas anois le dhá bhliain agus níl aon rud déanta fá dtaobh de seo. An gcuirfidh an tAire Stáit an próiseas i mbun sa dóigh is go mbeidh toghcháin ann arís do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta?

Mar is eol do na Teachtaí, luaitear sa chlár Rialtais go ndéanfar athbhreithniú ar struchtúir fheidhmiúcháin agus rialachais Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin nó toghcháin i ndáil le bord an údaráis. Maidir leis an gcuid den ghealltanas a bhaineann leis an athbhreithniú ar an bpróiseas roghnúcháin nó toghcháin atá i bhfeidhm do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta, rinne an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais, ar iarratas na Roinne Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltacht, Spóirt agus Meán, comórtas a reáchtáil don dara huair le gairid i dtreo sainchomhairleoireacht a aimsiú le tabhairt faoin athbhreithniú agus moltaí ina leith a chur faoi bhráid na Roinne. Mar chuid den athbhreithniú sin, is mian leis an Rialtas an deis a thabhairt don phobal tuairimí agus moltaí faoin ábhar a léiriú i scríbhinn ag úsáid an cheistneora a fhoilseofar go luath. Is comhairliúchán poiblí é seo agus foilseofar na freagraí a fhaightear ar shuíomh an Rialtais. Is cúis díomá é nach bhfuarthas aon tairiscint de thoradh na gcomórtas seo, ach mar sin féin tá sé i gceist an próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí a sheoladh go ríghairid, faoina dtabharfar an deis don phobal tuairimí agus moltaí faoin ábhar a roinnt i scríbhinn leis an Roinn. Cuirfear san áireamh, mar is cuí, moltaí agus tuairimí faoin ábhar a fhaightear de thoradh an phróisis comhairliúcháin phoiblí.

Comhthreomhar leis an bpróiseas comhairliúchán sin a bheith ar bun, leanfaidh an Roinn ag obair leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Poiblí i dtreo an Roinn a bheith in ann sainchomhairleoireacht atá cáilithe go cuí a aimsiú chun tabhairt faoin athbhreithniú agus moltaí ina leith a chur ar fáil don Roinn maidir leis an gcur chuige roghnúcháin nó toghcháin is fearr don todhchaí.

Tá dhá iarracht ar leith déanta go dtí seo ag an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais sainchomhairleoireacht a aimsiú trí chomórtas tairisceana. Ós rud é, áfach, nach bhfuarthas aon tairiscint de thoradh an dara chomórtais seo, tá roghanna eile á mbreithniú ag an Roinn faoi láthair i gcomhar leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Poiblí. Mar shampla, d'fhéadfaí dul i mbun plé díreach le hinstitiúidí nó comhlachtaí a bhfuil taithí nó saineolas ar leith acu sa réimse seo. D'fhéadfaí féachaint laistigh den státchóras féin chomh maith agus tabhairt faoin athbhreithniú ar an mbunús sin.

Is é an sprioc atá leis an obair seo ar fad, ar ndóigh, ná teacht ar an gcur chuige roghnúcháin nó toghcháin is fearr don údarás.

Ní bhfuair mé soiléireacht ó shin, caithfidh mé a rá. Dúirt an tAire Stáit go bhfoilseofaí an ceistneoir go luath. Cén uair? Deirtear go bhfoilseofar é go ríghairid. Bhí an t-eolas sin amuigh san iomaíocht cheana féin. Táimid anseo chun an cheist seo a phlé. Táimid ag labhairt díreach leis an Aire Stáit. Teastaíonn freagraí uainn. Tá sé á phlé mar go bhfuil daoine fíorbhuartha faoi seo. Cén uair a sheolfar an ceistneoir seo? An bhfuil an tAire Stáit ag rá, go soiléir, linn inniu go mbeidh toghcháin ann do bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta? Cén uair a bheidh sé? Teastaíonn freagraí uainn. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuilimid á phlé inniu. Teastaíonn freagraí uainn.

Sin é bun agus barr an scéil. Tá freagraí de dhíth, ní orainn, ach ar mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Tá siad ag fanacht anois deich mbliana le toghcháin a thabhairt ar ais ag bord Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá an cheist seo socraithe sa Ghaeltacht. Roimh an olltoghchán deireanach, bhí cruinnithe sa Ghaeltacht ag na grúpaí poiblí Gaeltachta. Is é ceann de na héilimh a bhí acu ná daonlathas a thabhairt ar ais go dtí Údarás na Gaeltachta. Tá daoine agus grúpaí ag feidhmiú go dtí seo. Níl próiseas eile de dhíth ach má tá an Roinn tiomanta chun an phróisis seo, ar a laghad, iarraim ar an Aire Stáit insint dúinn an mhí a bhfuil sé ag dul ag tosú. Cá fhad a mhairfidh sé? Cathain a thiocfaidh deireadh leis? Cá fhad ina dhiaidh sin a nglacfaidh an tAire Stáit agus an Rialtas le cinneadh a dhéanamh le toghchán a thabhairt ar ais ag bord Údarás na Gaeltachta? An bhfuil athrú scéil ó thaobh pholasaí Fhianna Fáil ann? Mar sin, is é an polasaí a bhí ag Fianna Fáil ná go mbeadh toghcháin ar ais ag bord Údarás na Gaeltachta. An bhfuil athrú scéala air sin anois?

D'fhéadfadh an t-údarás a bheith níos gaire fós don phobal Gaeltachta a n-oibríonn sé dóibh. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil an próiseas seo ag tosú. Is é sin an fáth go ndearna an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais na comórtais a reáchtáil. Tuigtear don Roinn go bhfuil os cionn 20 comhlacht cláraithe ar an gcreatlach sin. Foilsíodh an chéad chuireadh chun tairisceana ar an 8 Iúil, ach níor cuireadh aon tairiscint isteach don chomórtas sin. Is é an spriocdháta a bhí leis ná an 4 Lúnasa. Foilsíodh an dara cuireadh chun tairisceana ar sheachtain na Nollag agus tugadh níos mó ama an babhta sin. Mar sin féin, níor cuireadh aon tairiscint isteach don chomórtas sin faoin spriocdháta a bhain leis, an 28 Eanáir.

Tá sé i gceist ag an Rialtas próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí a eagrú mar chuid den athbhreithniú faoina dtabharfar an deis don phobal tuairimí agus moltaí faoin ábhar a roinnt i scríbhinn. Tá sé i gceist an próiseas sin a sheoladh go ríghairid. De réir seo ar fad, níl aon chinneadh déanta ag an Rialtas go fóill maidir leis an leagan amach a bheidh ar an mbord amach anseo. Ní dhéanfar aon chinneadh ina leith go dtí go mbeidh an próiseas athbhreithnithe seo curtha i gcrích.

Tá mé sásta leis na toghcháin mar chuid den phróiseas rialachais agus cinntíonn siad go bhfuil eagraíocht dírithe ar thosaíocht an phobail a bhfreastalaíonn siad orthu a sheachadadh. Soláthraíonn siad córas trédhearcach de cheapacháin agus tugann siad spreagadh do na hionadaithe dul i dteagmháil go gníomhach leis na pobail a ndéanann siad ionadaíocht orthu.

Tá dhá rud ag tosú anois. Tá an próiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí an-tábhachtach chun na tuairimí a phlé le pobal na Gaeltachta. Tá mé dóchasach go mbeimid in ann an próiseas leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais a chur i bhfeidhm anois. Ní rabhamar in ann an rud seo a chríochnú an bhliain seo caite.

Cén dáta a bheidh sé á dhéanamh?

Beidh an próiseas comhairliúcháin á sheoladh go gairid.

Hospital Overcrowding

In University Hospital Limerick, there were 86 patients on beds on 24 January; 97 patients on 25 January and 111 patients on 26 January. Where is Paul Reid? I know there are patients who are not discharged on time. They have not been met to be discharged. What is the cost to the insurance company? I want an audit done to see how many patients are in hospital in a private capacity. Patients are admitted for tests that can easily be done on a day care basis and they are in the hospital for four days.

I also want the bullying of nurses in the hospital to be addressed. How many nurses have left that hospital due to bullying by management? The number of nurses we have lost from that hospital is unbelievable. I have asked, not only on this occasion but on many occasions, for the management to step down. It failed us before and during Covid and it is failing us now. It is failing the front-line workers in this hospital.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for coming in here today. For a while, I was afraid that the Chief Whip would be responding on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. Is the Minister back in the country? It is good to know that he is, because while he was away, overcrowding in Limerick reached a new record level. It reached a record for Limerick and then the next day, it reached a national record. I raised the issue of the necessity of some kind of an independent review with the Taoiseach. He seemed to take the idea on board and said he would refer it to the HSE and the Minister for Health.

I, along with my Independent colleagues from the region, have raised this matter to ascertain what is happening with this independent review. Will we proceed with it? I do not have the answers. I know what the problems are and, undoubtedly, the Minister of State does too. It is very obvious. We have massive overcrowding in Limerick and have had for a long time. We were told that the new 96-bed unit would solve the problem with overcrowding-----

The Deputy had one minute.

I will add my voice to this on behalf of the three rural Independents who are up the midlands, where we are. The problem is historic. The new 96-bed unit is supposed to be there. That sod was turned by the then Minister, Mary Harney, 20 bliain ó shin. The HSE is a failure. It has badly failed Limerick people and the people of north Tipperary.

I salute Independent councillor Séamie Morris on the work he does and the other people of Nenagh who resisted the closure of the accident and emergency units in Nenagh and in St. John's Hospital. We are told this will be a centre of excellence in Limerick, but it is chaotic and people have been left on trolleys. The trolley crisis is unimaginable there and there is stress and trauma on staff, families and everybody else. We need a whole sea change here. We need a clean-out of management and a re-evaluation. We need to reopen St. John's and the perfect unit in Nenagh.

People are shouting now. Deputy Kelly made his career out of the closure of Nenagh. Deputy Lowry supported it at the time and here we are. People have been denuded of the services. We do not have mental health beds in County Tipperary. The Minister of State has responsibility for mental health. We have to go either to Ennis or Kilkenny.

I welcome this opportunity to address the House on the issues raised by the three Deputies. It is not the first time any of them has raised this. We hear it on a consistent basis. I acknowledge the distress that overcrowded emergency Departments cause to patients, their families and front-line staff working in very challenging conditions in hospitals throughout the country.

The health sector is facing significant challenges in providing emergency care over the winter period while also managing the demands of Covid-19.

The emergency department in Limerick is one of the busiest in the country, with over 76,000 attendances in 2021, which was up 16% compared to 2020 and up 7% compared with 2019. However, the numbers of patients waiting on trolleys for admission in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, in 2021 was 4.7% lower than in 2020 and 35% lower than in 2019. I appreciate that this is cold comfort to anyone who is on a trolley. The University of Limerick Hospitals Group has reported that it is continuing to deal with high volumes of patients attending the emergency department at UHL. This pattern has been sustained over a number of months and is being replicated around the country. UHL is working to ensure care is prioritised for the sickest patients. As part of its escalation plan, additional ward rounds, accelerated discharges and identification of patients for transfer to UL model 2 hospitals are under way. Surge capacity has been opened to manage the extremely high levels of activity.

There has been, and continues to be, substantial investment in UHL and the wider hospital group in recent years to address capacity issues. For example, a new emergency department opened in 2017. Since the start of 2020, 98 new beds have opened at UHL. This included the 60-bed modular ward block, which became operational in November 2020. It was established to provide a rapid-build interim solution to begin to address the bed capacity issues at UHL and improve patient flow. This also included a 24 single-room bed block, which functions as a haematology oncology unit, and a temporary 14-bed single room block, which has been designated for confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients. These were initiated in May 2020 under the national action plan in response to Covid-19.

The winter plan for 2021-22 was published on 15 November and builds on the significant investment in last year’s winter plan. It aims to address the significant combined challenges faced by the health service over the winter period and recognises that a whole system response is required across primary, community and acute care. The scale of the challenges and demands faced by our health system requires both a plan and an associated system of governance and accountability. This system includes leadership, governance and operations to reflect the scale of the challenges faced and investments provided. The winter plan sets out the national, area and site level leadership and governance arrangements that are in place.

On the question of a review of UHL, the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, is closely monitoring the overcrowding situation in a number of hospitals, including at Limerick over the past number of weeks. It has also had recent correspondence with the hospital group CEO regarding its evaluation of the current factors influencing crowding in the emergency department. HIQA has also written to HSE senior management to highlight its intention to initiate inspections under the national standards for safer and better healthcare.

The matter of performance in hospital emergency departments is under constant review by the Department through ongoing engagement with the HSE. The Department will continue to monitor the situation closely. On the question of a review at UHL, HIQA is closely monitoring the overcrowding situation in a number of hospitals and there are no further details in the response from the Minister for Health.

A review by HIQA is a review by the HSE. There is no such thing as an independent review of the HSE because it is the HSE auditing itself. This goes for every case that we have had in the High Court and everything; it is the HSE investigating itself. Therefore, that is not an independent review. These are people who are within the HSE sector and are paid by the Department. They are nominated by the Ministers to go on these reviews and they are investigating themselves. I am sorry, but that is not a review.

The hospital has introduced a three-minute assessment for a patient to be assessed. If a patient gets an extra minute, the management comes down and chastises the person who is trying to look after a patient. That is not right, either.

The management of UHL has to step down and let a new management in that will bring the morale of the hospital up. It is not front-line workers who are the problem; it is the management.

I thank the Minister of State for her reply, scant as it is. HIQA has a certain remit and I do not think it has the remit to recommend that model 2 hospitals be upgraded to model 3 hospitals. HIQA does not have a remit to look at the population, for example, if there is population growth or if the population of a region is greater than anticipated when originally planning hospital capacity. While I welcome the fact that HIQA is closely looking at this, I have two questions.

First, will the correspondence the Minister of State referred to be published? I do not think any of us want to go through the jig of looking for it through Freedom of Information. Ultimately, there has to be accountability by the Government, the permanent Government, the HSE and HIQA, through the delivery of health services in this country to democratically elected representatives. Can we see that correspondence?

Second, is the idea of a review no longer being considered? If that is the case, I am very disappointed. While I respect the work that HIQA is doing, its remit is limited.

The audacity of Mr. Watt and indeed the Minister for Health to go to Dubai to look at best practices during Covid speaks for itself and shows how out of touch they are.

My good friend and the Minister of State's former colleague, the former Minister of State, Máire Hoctor, did her very best to keep Nenagh accident and emergency department open. She was hounded out of office by Deputy Kelly and others who attacked her at the time. We have to go back and revisit and open Nenagh accident and emergency department, which was a perfect unit. We also have to open St. John's accident and emergency department again as an interim solution until we get a new building that is capable of dealing with the number of patients from north Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and beyond. South Tipperary General Hospital has an overflow of people coming in now because they cannot get into Limerick and they are afraid to go there because of the trolley crisis. Many things are wrong.

HIQA investigating this is a pure joke. It has written to the management to tell it is coming in to investigate, yet it goes into nursing homes with no prior notice, inspecting them and closing them down. This charade of the HSE has to be disbanded. We have to open up the perfect accident and emergency units that were in Nenagh and St. John's Hospital.

I have to put on the record of the Dáil that HIQA is an independent body. I know from dealing with nursing homes, community nursing units and community hospitals throughout the country, and from any dealings I have had with HIQA, that it is an independent body.

The 2018 health service capacity review was clear on the need for a major investment in additional capacity in both acute hospitals and the community, combined with a wide-scale reform of the manner and the location of where health services are provided.

I will follow up today on Deputy McNamara's two questions - about the correspondence being published and a review being considered - to try to get him a substantial answer. I am aware that in relation to the question of the review of UHL, HIQA is closely monitoring the overcrowding situation in a number of hospitals, including Limerick over the past number of weeks and has had recent correspondence with the hospital group CEO regarding its evaluation of the current factors influencing crowding in the emergency department. I will bring the Deputies' concerns to the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly.

Consumer Rights

First of all, I welcome the focus on consumers this week. The Government is right to look both at short-term and, vitally, long-term solutions to this problem. One of the areas in which we have been very negligent is that we have not confronted the rip-off that many larger companies carry out on consumers by making it difficult for them to find best value. It is typically the older and less tech-savvy people who are the vulnerable ones being exploited by companies through these practices. Many of those companies are using sophisticated big data to upsell and play on consumers' weaknesses to try to improve their position.

I am calling for four simple measures that will make a huge difference to consumers. The first is that they should be informed of the renewal date in good time. That happens in motor insurance but it does not happen in mobile, television, broadband, financial contracts or utility services. We need to change that.

We also need to introduce a provision whereby a simple quick response, QR, code is on the bill that a person gets so that they can see not only their use pattern but also the billing charges thereon. They can then go to comparison sites and see exactly where they can get better value, given their position and pattern of consumption.

The third thing is that a code of practice need to be introduced by the regulators whereby there can be a frictionless response to consumers who want to change their contract. Now, that attempt to make a change is frustrated by an inability to make telephone contact and to get responses in a timely manner.

This is all with the purpose of wearing consumers down so that they do not pursue their entitlements.

Finally, I ask that the electricity companies activate the 700,000 smart meters that are in people's homes to allow them to use off-peak and renewable energy and so bring down their bills. All of these rules would be beneficial to consumers but to make them effective we need to ensure the regulators in each case have the power to adjudicate finally on any complaints by consumers that these new rules are not being applied.

The reality is that there is better value to be had but companies are putting barriers in the way of consumers. My colleague, Senator Garret Ahearn, did an exercise and found that he saved more than €2,000 by simply looking to different broadband, telephone, television, car insurance and health insurance providers. We should make it easy for people to do that and make those comparisons. At times it is almost impossible. For example it is almost impossible for an ordinary consumer to compare their health insurance with what might be available elsewhere. With simple QR codes and sophisticated comparison sites that could be possible for consumers.

I realise that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is not the responsible Minister. I will take it up with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, who I think will be in the House later in the day. I would like to convey my strong view that this is an opportunity to make big changes for the long-term benefit of consumers.

I thank Deputy Bruton for raising this important issue. I agree with what he has said. The recent rises in prices are driven by a number of factors and it is vital that all drivers of price increases are addressed. We have to make sure that we have, at least, transparent and competitive markets. The first point he made about consumers being informed of the renewal date is the most sensible thing I have heard in a long time because what happens is that people agree a deal with a service provider for 12 months but unfortunately that date can expire without them being informed. We are, as he said, always informed in regard to car insurance renewal so that is a very practical suggestion. Information is key, especially for consumers who too often are presented with details about prices and offerings that make it too difficult for them to compare and ensure they are getting the right service or product offering at the best price.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has broad responsibilities for the protection of consumers' rights and ensuring competition. Like everybody in the House, the Minister of State for trade promotion, digital and company regulations, Deputy Troy, and I have a deep interest in all initiatives which are ultimately to the benefit of consumers. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, which falls under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, has a specific role under legislation to provide personal finance information and education to consumers, in order to promote financial resilience and support overall financial well-being. The CCPC uses its knowledge, skills and statutory powers to promote competition and enhance consumer welfare. To this end the CCPC has developed, maintained and actively promotes a suite of online comparison tools for customers across a range of financial products including current accounts, regular savings accounts, mortgages and credit cards. Another feature of the CCPC's money tools is the various calculators - the mortgage calculator, the extra mortgage payments calculator, the spending calculator and the budget planner. By using these calculators, consumers can see how much money they could potentially save. The CCPC also offers a guide on how to switch gas and electricity providers. The money tools facility was created to allow consumers to compare quickly and easily features across all of the major financial providers. All of its comparison facilities and consumer information are independently provided to help consumers to find the options that best suit their needs.

Clearly, the current levels of inflation are a cause for concern. The Government has already taken action, and will take more actions, to assist people. I recognise that some bills, such as energy bills, are increasing regardless of what provider a customer is with. Of course expanding and protecting consumer rights is also important. I understand that the Tánaiste intends to go to the Government shortly to publish a consumer rights Bill, which will be the biggest reform of consumer rights legislation in more than 40 years. The Bill will address gaps in existing legislation, consolidate the legislation, make consumer law clearer for traders and consumers and introduce new provisions on contracts for the sale of goods and contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services. For example, downloads and streaming will be subject to similar laws as apply to digital content in physical form. The proposed Bill will also improve the enforcement of consumer rights law and increase the enforcement powers of the CCPC. The debate on this legislation, when introduced, might be a great opportunity to have further discussion on the four points the Deputy raised: the need to be informed of the renewal date, to include a QR code on each bill, for regulators to introduce a code of practice and - the Deputy made a valid point in regard to electricity - to activate smart meters so that people can use electricity at off-peak times. All of these sensible proposals should be taken on board.

I welcome the Minister of State's positive response. As politicians, we sometimes recognise things that need to change but our good intentions get caught up in the tangled affairs of bringing new legislation forward. I would like to see some of these small and simple changes prioritised and pressure put on the drafting of legislation to bring forward amendments. Those amendments need to commence preparation today if a Bill is to be passed in the House over the next four or five months. That is the reality. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to convey to the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, a request that he have his officials start drafting amendments now, so that we can consider how this could be done. I recognise the CCPC's work but the reality is that it offers consumers an umbrella in the midst of a storm when we all know the umbrella will double in on itself unless the opportunity is there, with these companies, to facilitate the changes that are to be made. I also recognise that updating our consumer law to include the digital world is welcome. There are features that have emerged from the digital power of companies that we have not rectified. The reality is that fewer and fewer of these large companies have any front-facing, customer-facing staff who can be approached to make these changes. They operate remote and hidden systems designed to suck in customers but then lock them in. That is not a market operating fairly. My request to the Minister of State is not only to offer support for the principle here, but also to seek an instruction that amendments should now be drafted in order to make this a reality when we come to debate the substance in a couple of months.

I thank the Deputy. The comment he has made about being prepared represents a sensible approach. It will be welcome when this debate is being held in the Dáil. As we all know, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities provides a list of electricity and gas providers with some helpful hints and tips on switching. However, I am conscious that as Deputy Bruton mentioned in his opening statement, many older people are not tech-savvy, are not online and have not grown up in that environment, and therefore would find it impossible to consider switching. We find many people stay with the same provider all their lives and do not switch. That is an area on which there needs to be a special focus. The point the Deputy makes on being informed of a renewal date is important. We know that opting to go paperless can save 10% off electricity bills, but then the date for renewal might fall in September or October and the consumer might not realise this until the bill comes in November or December. I will take up all the issues with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy.

Cuireadh an Dáil ar fionraí ar 9.49 a.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 10 a.m.
Sitting suspended at 9.49 a.m. and resumed at 10 a.m.
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