Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The Government has adopted our policy of merging the National Consumer Association with the Competition Authority and I welcome this decision. However, it is important that the sum of the two parts of these agencies should be greater than the whole. I would like this new agency to have an expanded role. It should represent consumers in the social partnership process as they are not properly represented in it at present. The new body should be given the role of ensuring that tax decreases and increases are not used by retailers and service providers as an excuse to increase prices or not to decrease prices as the case may be.

The new agency may also have a role in monitoring currency fluctuations. There is great concern at present among the public that the effect of the fall in the value of sterling is not being passed on to them in terms of lower prices. I understand it is not as straightforward as this and that other factors are involved, such as different costs of doing business and different tax rates and the fact that people bought their products many months ago.

A couple of points in the Government's amendment are amusing. The Government commends itself for the prudent management of the economy. Not even its supporters who are not members of Fianna Fáil believe it has been prudent. They may defend the Government but they certainly will not state it has been prudent. I do not think a single commentator, economist or international body will state the Government has been prudent.

I already mentioned the point about tackling inflation on which the Government has direct control. The Government commends itself for its continued investment in the NDP but it has cut spending on the NDP by €1 billion this year. The motion welcomes the fact that the energy regulator has not increased the price of gas and electricity. This is not good enough. It also commends the Government on its 25% target for reducing the burden of regulation on business. However, as we all know it has not worked out what 100% is so how can it cut it by 25% if it still has not worked out what the base line cost of regulation is in Ireland?

The rip-off is alive and well in Ireland. Falling inflation in 2009 must not be used as an excuse for further increases in Government charges and Government regulated prices. In 2009 we will continue to prosecute the Government when it comes to rising prices, rip-off and consumer protection and we will continue to put forward positive suggestions in this regard. I commend the motion to the House.

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