RSF - ' O' Dea's advice like Nero and fire'

pensioners to suffer due to current set up

The Minister has made a career out of stating the obvious but this time he has surpassed himself. While he accepts that the increased fuel bills are causing concern, the Minister then states that his colleague Mary Hanafin is monitoring the impact on pensioners. In fact there is no need to monitor anything – the price rises in both gas and electricity and in the basic cost of a bag of coal are breath-taking and will force many pensioners to go without adequate warmth this winter. A bag of coal is now eighteen euro.

O’DEA ADVICE LIKE NERO AND FIRE

The latest increases in fuel allowances do not match inflation and fall well behind what pensioners need to keep warm this winter, a spokesman for Republican Sinn Fein said today.

Joe Lynch from Beechgrove Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston in Limerick, the vice chairman of the Munster RSF Executive said that the public statement by the 26 County Defence Minister urging people to be aware of the increased allowances is akin to Nero advising the Roman people about a fire.

The Minister has made a career out of stating the obvious but this time he has surpassed himself. While he accepts that the increased fuel bills are causing concern, the Minister then states that his colleague Mary Hanafin is monitoring the impact on pensioners. In fact there is no need to monitor anything – the price rises in both gas and electricity and in the basic cost of a bag of coal are breath-taking and will force many pensioners to go without adequate warmth this winter. A bag of coal is now eighteen euro.

If Minister O’Dea is really interested in coming to the aid of pensioners this winter he should immediately call for an increase in the fuel allowances to cover inflation. Not only that he should then work to ensure that the drastic price increases are limited and pegged for the next few years. Price control can be imposed – and as gas, electricity and coal are basic requirements in the coming winter, he should support the pegging of these prices to offer some relief to those who are fearful of facing into a cold winter.

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