Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

This indicates a problem relating to public commentary on surveys generally because different countries have different taxes. The State would reply that analyses of the cost competitiveness of the Irish economy rarely mention the fact that corporation tax is 12.5%, far lower than every other corporation tax in Europe.

The most recent discussions on the grocery trade, where appalling, deliberate inaccuracies have been circulated, provide a case in point. Goods covered by the groceries order have been deliberately mixed with those not covered by the groceries order and headlines today suggested food prices are up 16%. Statistics from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, show that goods covered by the groceries order have fallen in price by 1.6% since April 2006 and are at the lowest level since December 2002. Anyone can do a survey showing the price of fish is up 16% in supermarkets but fish was never covered by the groceries order. Articles suggest that, despite the abolition of the groceries order, fish is up 16%, but this is a false and misleading statement because it does not compare like with like. However, three months before a general election anything goes, I suppose.

The Senator was not trying to raise these issues but was suggesting that comparing the price of, for example, beer in Ireland with the price in other countries is not comparing like with like as our excise duty on alcohol is higher. That is a fair comment and we will talk to the agency about its responsibility to ensure it draws distinctions. The problem is that there are so many different benchmarks internationally. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, might conduct a survey, the European Commission might conduct one, people use gross domestic product, GDP, rather than gross national product, GNP, and sometimes it is hard to get a common framework. I will consider the matter of seeking to place a general obligation on the agency to make every effort to ensure surveys compare like with like to promote accuracy.

The other side of my argument about the groceries order is that those opposed to it may feel that certain surveys were skewed in support of it. I do not know if this is the case but that argument has been made to me. The difficulty is in legislatively placing an obligation on an agency to ensure surveys compare like with like. A general exhortation could be included legislatively that the agency should have due regard for objective data sources and comparing like with like. I will consider this matter in the context of Report Stage as I think Senator Quinn has made a valid point and, for the sake of good debate and legislation, we desperately need neutral, objective and cold analysis of facts. There are many interest groups on all sides that are anxious to spin issues this way and that but for good, informed public policy and decision making, one needs a cold, analytical approach. In this regard the CSO provides some of the best data possible.