Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Not surprisingly it has all the hallmarks of having been hastily drafted and presented because there are many flaws in it. The abolition of the groceries order and the introduction of these changes are clearly meant to take the heat off the Government for its inaction towards Irish consumers for a long time. Faced with the ever increasing costs, particularly those in the State sector, and in the context of considerable consumer concern about being ripped off, this Administration has demonstrated inaction and neglect in terms of the plight of Irish consumers. Aside from direct increases in costs of goods and services within the State sector, the Government has consistently failed to give consumers the benefit of competition in key sectors. Instead of truly taking a positive and pro-consumer stance on consumer issues, all we have had is lip service. For example, we have a new National Consumer Agency, which has been presented as the saviour for Irish consumers, but it has very little power. All I have seen in recent times has been the spending of plenty of money on soft PR initiatives. Few who have witnessed the activities of the National Consumer Agency since its establishment on an interim basis cannot be inspired with confidence that it will be the saviour of Irish consumers. In particular, it has failed to give any indication of the areas it intends to tackle on behalf of consumers. It seems to be considering many areas. That is hardly surprising, given that the Consumers' Association of Ireland was ignored when the members of the agency were being appointed.

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