Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

When there is much business and demand, that is what people do and I do not believe any law can get around that. Many pubs in Dublin did not increase their prices. Tourists will go wherever they most enjoy being. We all know that when we are tourists, we often go to more expensive places because they are more convenient. I hope locals are more discerning. If they are regulars, I hope they make their views known by perhaps withdrawing their business, albeit temporarily. I know many of the well-known hostelries around here frequented by Members of this House also engaged in price hiking that weekend. I do not believe there is a legislative way around it. The fact that the director highlighted it will make people less likely to increase prices on the next occasion. The publicity was certainly bad for those who engaged in it. That might discourage this activity from happening on other occasions.

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