Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

This first came to light in response to a parliamentary question I tabled. The Tánaiste announced this with great fanfare more than a year and a half ago and it was to be implemented in weeks. Following a meeting with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, an IMO spokesperson said that Department officials had pointed out logistical problems, which I have now heard rehashed. It is extraordinary that while we can have price lists for hairdressers and others, certain groups are untouchable. We surely can have a mechanism whereby we require the display of prices and while inspection might not take place we could certainly investigate complaints from patients who advise they were charged more than the displayed price. Why can this not be done? Without it we have no basis for real competition in certain sectors. We will have a competitive economy with no-go areas.

See this speech in context