Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of profiteering in many sectors but particularly in the hospitality sector.

Last year was a good year for tourism in this State, and The Gathering turned out to be a success. We are facing into the first rugby home match this weekend and in the past on such weekends the price of alcohol throughout Dublin city centre increased. That is wrong. There are good profits to be made without profiteering, and we should try to ensure this does not happen. Yesterday we discussed profiteering by some hotels in respect of the Garth Brooks concerts, on which there was a further discussion on the national airwaves this morning. An analysis was done and in the week before the concert the rate in some hotels was €140 per night but one week later for the nights of the concerts it increased to €440 per night. That is wrong and it is part of the reason this nation ended up in the mess in which it finds itself financially and so on.