Seanad debates

Wednesday, 19 November 2003

Report of Tourism Policy Review Group: Statements.

 

The latest inflation figures up to mid-October have been released. These show price increases in restaurants and hotels of 6%, which is nearly double the overall rate of inflation. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco prices increased by 9%. It may be that much of that is attributable to tobacco rather than alcoholic beverages. It is high time those figures were disaggregated so we could see clearly what is happening on each side of the fence. While we need to be conscious of costs, we should not be so self-flagellatory. I have been in other European countries recently and seen their prices. I was asked to speak at an Oxford Union debate and stayed in a hotel for which I myself had to pay. The price was totally outrageous when compared to the service. While we are not unique in this sense, we obviously have to watch carefully where we are going.

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