Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support the view expressed by Senator Aideen Hayden on the proposal on property tax. This matter needs to be addressed. However, I must draw a distinction in this regard in that I am probably a traditionalist because I refer to local authority houses as "council houses". Social housing, on the other hand, is provided by Respond! and other voluntary organisations.

On the issue of misleading advertising, especially in large stores and supermarkets, it is unfair to expose shoppers to signage that suggests one thing but means another. For example, one supermarket displayed a saving on a product in much larger lettering than the actual price. The display featured the word "save" in tiny letters followed by "40 cent" in large lettering, thus leading the unsuspecting shopper to believe the item in question cost 40 cent. The actual price may feature in even smaller lettering.

Another ploy is to have a price of ¤1 placed in front of an item, for example, toothpaste, followed in small lettering by the word "per 25g", whereas the products on the shelf behind the price sign are in 100g sizes. This, too, misleads unsuspecting shoppers. Sterling prices are often displayed in large letters, while the euro price is given a lesser position on the pricing label. This lulls consumers into believing the larger price is the correct one. These examples may not involve breaches of the law but they create confusion and costs for unsuspecting shoppers, especially older people and those with special needs or poor eyesight. As my contribution is not as long as that of Senator Norris, I ask the Cathaoirleach to indulge me for another moment.