Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The Minister is playing politics and is not serious about doing anything in respect of this issue if he cannot agree with the Opposition parties on this fundamental issue. Undoubtedly, however, despite not supporting this motion, the Government will be obliged to do something in respect of competitive pressures because it knows — the focus groups have told it — that the cost of living is an extremely important issue.

Opposition Members have been left with no option but to represent the widespread view of the people, namely, that the Government has no consumer policy, that it contributes to higher costs of living through stealth taxes and charges and erodes the power of the consumer and diminishes workers' living standards. While such workers may have had their personal tax burdens cut, they have found that the money was taken back from their pockets and household income by the imposition of stealth taxes and indirect taxes. That is not the route to take. We must tackle the root causes of our competitive deficiencies. I ask the Minister to reconsider his amendment. Perhaps by tomorrow he may be able to indicate that agreement can be reached as to what is necessary to proceed with a pro-competition agenda in the interests of the consumers.

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