'Appalling' plight of family who had electricity cut off

SEANAD REPORT: SEANAD LEADER Donie Cassidy described as “appalling” the plight of a family that a Fine Gael member said she …

SEANAD REPORT:SEANAD LEADER Donie Cassidy described as "appalling" the plight of a family that a Fine Gael member said she had learned of while canvassing.

Nicky McFadden said a house she had called to was in darkness because of an inability to pay for electricity. “They hadn’t fed their children for two days . . . These are people who are paying their mortgage and consequently going without food and electricity.”

The House must be made relevant, so that it connected with those suffering the most.

Party colleague Fidelma Healy-Eames said what Ms McFadden had described was the reality facing us as a people, and the situation would be made even worse by the deal negotiated with the IMF and EU, which protected the elite of Europe. Fine Gael was right to seek to renegotiate it.

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Mr Cassidy said he was sure there were HSE personnel who could help this family. “It’s appalling that should happen at this time in our country’s history.”

He would see what he could do to assist in this matter.

Demanding that the House be afforded an opportunity to vote on the EU-IMF deal, David Norris (Ind) said he was giving consideration to taking a constitutional action over the agreement, having obtained legal opinion in relation to it.