Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Has the Minister examined the statistics provided by the CSO which show that the Government regulated sectors have price increases of two and a half times the rate of the rest of Europe? These other European countries are experiencing the same oil price increases, interest rate rises and international pressures of competition. It is only prices regulated here, however, that show these hefty increases.

The Minister is disavowing any responsibility for this. Is he not aware that it is Ministers who set prices for rail and bus services, televisions licences, prescribed drugs, health insurance and so on? Many of the sectors in which the greatest increases have taken place are those where prices are directly set. Is the Minister not aware that the regulatory framework is set by the Government and that it is his responsibility to cure the deficiencies he has acknowledged in our regulatory framework?

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