Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to provide time in early July to debate in detail the Forfás consumer pricing report of 2003, which places the Republic of Ireland second highest in the euro zone, next to Finland. Increases in Irish consumer prices in the past five years have sharply outpaced those of our European neighbours. To gauge reaction to the high prices, I am launching a "name and shame" consumer campaign today in conjunction with the Consumers Association of Ireland. I call on the general public to get involved in this campaign to expose the rip-off in consumer goods and services and the massive price hikes, which are making us uncompetitive. I want to empower the public to get involved in this campaign and to use – not abuse – parliamentary privilege, which will allow me to name the highest and lowest prices in Ireland when the campaign is finished in June. Furthermore, as Senator O'Toole said, on my journey from Roscommon to Dublin today, I passed 25 petrol stations and there was a difference of 11 cent in the price of a litre of unleaded petrol. Now is the time to take a stand.