Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I am pleased to speak on the motion as it relates to the most vital aspects of people's lives and the manner in which they make a living. One of the first duties of any Government should be to ensure the prosperity of its people. This can only be guarded by keeping a close watch on the cost of living and having clear competition. We have mounting evidence the Government is failing in this duty. The rates of anti-competitive practices are on the rise and nothing is being done to stop them. Worse still, the Government is one of the parties contributing to the rising cost of living and the lack of competition in the economy.

On its own initiative, Fine Gael attempted to act on the huge rise in costs for the Irish household when it began a website highlighting rip-off Ireland, which has been an outstanding success. It led directly to the exposure by Eddie Hobbs and RTE of the Government's role in rip-off Ireland. Deputy Hogan initiated the rip-off Ireland website.

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