Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

So the Taoiseach’s response is basically to appeal to the good nature of the people who are already racking these prices on people. That is a sad response. Surely the Government has to take some action at some point. The Taoiseach said getting a reputation for price gouging is bad for society and the economy as a whole. Of course it is but the Government can prevent it from happening. It can tell hoteliers that it will take action and stop them from doing this and implement it instead of just chatting nicely to them and putting their arguments across here on the floor of the House so their arguments can be heard, which I believe is nonsensical. I have heard them make that argument on the radio. Every citizen can hear them make those arguments but that does not change anything. Nothing ever changes. Based on the Government's point of view, it seems that nothing will change because the Taoiseach is going to stand there and say there are loads of free events around the country and people can go to them and if they go to concerts, they are going to have suck it up and put up with it because the Government is going to talk nicely to the hoteliers, see if they will reduce their prices and when they do not, do nothing about it. That is a sad reflection.

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