asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state the number of complaints of overcharging received by his Department between September 3rd, 1939, and August 31st, 1941; the number of prosecutions instituted by or on behalf of his Department, the number of convictions obtained and amount of fines imposed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Complaints of Overcharging.
The number of complaints received by my Department during the two-year period 3rd September, 1939, to 31st August, 1941, concerning alleged excessive prices charged to the public was 2,992. In 32 per cent. of the cases reported the information given was insufficient to allow for investigation to be made, and although the complainants were requested to furnish further particulars they failed to do so. Of the number investigated the prices were found reasonable in 70 per cent. of the cases, and in the remaining 30 per cent. the prices were found to be unreasonably high, and were adjusted at the instance of my Department. The Deputy should understand that these complaints related to a wide variety of commodities, only a few of which are the subject of price orders. It is in respect of breaches of price orders that any question of prosecution arises. The number of cases of overcharging in respect of goods subject to price orders, where the evidence available was such as, in the opinion of my Department, to support a prosecution was 13. Proceedings were instituted in respect of these cases. Convictions were obtained in 10 of these cases, and two cases were adjourned. The fines varied from 1/- to £1, and totalled £6 8s. 6d.
asked the Minister for Supplies if he is aware that exorbitant prices, much in excess of those fixed by order of the Minister, are being charged for a number of commodities, and if he will state what machinery, if any, is being used to ensure that those orders are made effective.
A number of complaints has been received in my Department alleging that prices are being charged by traders in excess of those fixed by order. These complaints are at present under investigation with a view to the institution of legal proceedings. Prosecutions have already been instituted for contraventions of price orders in a number of cases, and further prosecutions in a greater number of cases are pending. From the point of view of the enforcement of price orders I must emphasise that the co-operation of consumers generally is of the greatest importance. If instances of overcharging are properly reported, and if consumers are prepared to provide the necessary evidence on which to institute legal proceedings, there will be a greater observance of the price orders made by me and a lesser tendency on the part of certain traders to contravene these orders. A special Enforcement Section has been established in my Department, and this section has been provided with a number of inspectors throughout the country, to ensure the enforcement of all orders made in my Department, including price orders.
Does the Minister expect that the public should enforce his orders?
Yes.
Surely you must have some other machinery. If I get something from a shopkeeper I am not going to report him. The people who are expected to do it are the very poor. They are in the position that they cannot get these orders enforced because they are afraid to report the traders. It is public property that the price of every commodity goes up when the Minister publishes the prices in the papers. It seems ballyhoo to publish them. Every one of the commodities is being sold at two or three times the price. Of course some of them cannot be got at all.
Would the Minister not agree that a better way than expecting individuals to report cases would be to insist on the shopkeepers exhibiting a list of prices?
That is the law at present.
Why does not the Minister insist on the law being carried out?
That is at present the law and it is enforceable by the Gárda Síochána. I am sure the Minister for Justice will be glad to get any reports from Deputies of cases in which the law is not enforced.
The only solution would be to impose very heavy fines.
I do not impose the fines.