Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

Every Minister who has direct control over inflation has taken the opportunity to increase prices by between five times inflation and infinity times inflation. We should give the Government amendment the respect it deserves.

Retailers, professionals and businesses, large and small, are not to blame for price increases in recent years. They are only responding to the example set by Ministers, State agencies and regulators and, in many cases, they have passed on to consumers the increases the Government has imposed on them in rates, taxes and utility charges.

In the coming weeks, Fine Gael will relaunch its Rip-Off Ireland campaign. As part of that campaign, we will put forward a series of measures to reduce the cost of living and strengthen consumer protection, among which will be the reversal of the 0.5% increase in VAT. This is a big mistake and it will not bring in more revenue nor will the 50 cent increase in the price of a packet of cigarettes or the increase in capital gains and capital acquisitions taxes. Contrary to the Minister for Finance, I anticipate revenue in all these areas will reduce next year and the Government's tax increases are counterproductive. Instead of increasing taxes, the Government should pare back day-to-day spending. While some people may believe the Government is engaged in spending restraint, that is not the case. It has cut the capital budget and day-to-day spending will increase by 7% or €3 billion next year. That should not happen and the Government should not use tax increases to pay for that.

The Government should reverse its plans to increase charges and levies to help restore stability to the economy and confidence to the business sector and consumers. We also need a major pro-consumer reform of the regulatory structure for energy and communications. Instead of taking written submissions, the regulators should hold oral hearings on proposed price increases similar to those held in Canada and America. The energy regulator has made a start in this regard but none of the other regulators has. The formula for calculating price increases should be published in order that we can see how the regulators justify increases. A level playing field is needed between consumers on one side and producers on the other. Producers can approach any regulator for a price increase but consumers do not have a mechanism by which they can petition him or her for a price decrease. That should change.

The Minister for Finance should use the payments services directive, which will be transposed into Irish law next year, to outlaw surcharges imposed on people using efficient means of payment such as credit cards, debit debits and e-payments. It should not be legal to surcharge for these types of payments.

The Tánaiste should amend the Consumer Protection Act to outlaw expiry dates on vouchers. This is particularly relevant at this time of year. As Christmas approaches people will spend hundreds of millions on vouchers.

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