asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if representatives of his Department have conducted, or are in the course of conducting, an investigation into the prices charged for meals in Dublin city restaurants; and, if so, if he will publish a report on such investigation as soon as possible.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin City Restaurant Charges.
59.
The answer to the first part of the question is "No"; and the second part does not, therefore, arise.
Arising out of the Minister's reply and having regard to the recent speech by the outgoing Chairman of the Dublin Regional Tourist Body, would he not consider it advisable, in the interests of tourism, to check on the prices charged for meals in Dublin city restaurants?
The volume of complaint in this regard is very small. In the past year, we have had only two or three complaints about it. Any such complaints are investigated. The Deputy will be aware also that there is a form of control involved, to the extent that a restaurant is attached to a hotel and comes under the Bord Fáilte regulations. I should think that if there were any grave abuse in this matter, we would have a volume of complaints and we have not had that.
This question refers to city restaurants and there is no mention of hotels. Bearing in mind the absence of information in his Department, surely the Minister can consult with the Minister for Transport and Power who is responsible for Bord Fáilte and who have indicated that they have quite a considerable number of complaints in this regard? I would also ask the Minister to look at the public press.