Frances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on his reappointment.

I am pleased to raise the need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the action the Government intends to take as a result of the information that has come to light that Irish consumers are paying up to 50% more than consumers in the United Kingdom for similar goods. It seems ridiculous and unfair that an Irish consumer is expected to pay up to 50% more than a British consumer for a similar item sold in British owned stores based in this country. I am interested in hearing what the Minister of State has to say. If there were to be a noticeable discrepancy between the two prices, one would expect the increase in the value of the euro to result in cheaper goods imported from sterling areas to this country. That has not happened. Does the Minister of State have information on whether sufficient account has been taken of the increased value of the euro by the various stores? It appears there has been a continuous rise in the cost of goods imported from the UK. Can the Government, and does it intend to, take action to address this inequity, which appears to penalise Irish consumers? Does current consumer protection afford enough protection from exploitation to the public? What is the role of the National Consumer Agency in tackling this issue? Has the Minister of State liaised with the National Consumer Agency on the issue? What is the reaction of the Minister of State in this regard?