Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

The Minister has not addressed the issue of what the Government is going to do. In a market driven economy such as ours, the large UK multiples will charge higher prices if they can get away with it. Will the Minister instruct the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority to work together? My party believes the two agencies should be combined into one stronger body. By publishing sterling and euro prices across a range of sectors, they could ensure the proper competition which is currently missing from the market.

I take exception to the Minister's refusal to apologise for his comments on whinging. He is speaking to consumers and businesses. The latter provide the jobs which, along with rising prices, are people's biggest concern at present. He has done absolutely nothing in that regard. Certainly there have been increases in the international price of oil, but the Government has done nothing to quell domestic inflation. For the past seven years, it has contributed to half of all non-mortgage based inflation.

Will he and the Tánaiste instruct the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority to publish on a weekly basis real time prices across a range of products so people know whether they are getting value for money from UK multiples? Will he apologise and withdraw his comments about whinging? He is speaking to people who are worried about their jobs.

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