Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

There are occasions when, in the country's interest, the Taoiseach will have to resist the temptation to give the Opposition parties a kick every time he sees us.

I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the prices issue I raised last week. I was glad that after I raised the issue here last Wednesday, the Taoiseach asked the Tánaiste to get a handle on the problem. Following that, I understand the Tánaiste had discussions with the National Consumer Agency. I see from a radio interview given by the chief executive of that agency on Friday, that the NCA will conduct a survey of prices in retail outlets. However, a bit more than a survey is required to deal with the prices problem I raised last week. I ask the Taoiseach to address a number of ways in which this problem can be tackled. First, if the National Consumer Agency is doing a survey, can the Taoiseach ensure it will list retail outlets that are ripping off Irish consumers? For example, retail branches of British multiples that have one price in the UK and another price here should be named and shamed in the survey.

Second, will the Taoiseach ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to introduce regulations to allow people to pay by credit card in sterling for goods that are marked in sterling prices? In other words, if goods are priced in sterling, people should be able to pay for them by credit card in sterling.

Third, will the Taoiseach ask the Tánaiste to introduce regulations, which she is entitled to do, under section 50 of the Consumer Protection Act for the labelling of goods, so that where prices are marked in sterling and in euro, the euro equivalent of sterling at a particular date is given? I appreciate this cannot be done every day because of varying exchange rates. However, one should be able to display the sterling price with the euro equivalent on whatever date. If a separate euro price is charged it should also be marked. In that way, consumers can see the extent to which they are being ripped off.

Fourth, will the Taoiseach call in the senior management of the large British multiples and tell them in his own blunt language what is required of them in this country, and that the ripping off of Irish consumers will not be tolerated?

Fifth, will the Taoiseach ask the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority to examine what is happening with regard to diesel prices, which I also raised last Wednesday? They have shot ahead of petrol prices, even though they have traditionally been lower.

See this speech in context