asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to reports that price control may be relaxed or abandoned in 1975; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price Control.
9.
I have seen some newspaper reports alleging that price control measures are to be phased out and the National Prices Commission to be abolished. There is no foundation for these reports. Price control measures will be maintained as long as they are necessary to protect the consumer.
It has always been recognised that price control should not be operated in such a way as to cause unemployment by making it impossible for efficient firms to remain in business, and this policy will be continued.
How does the Minister reconcile the reply he has just given with the statement of the Minister for Industry and Commerce over the radio that it was not possible to operate strict price control?
He did not say that.
He did. I heard him. Is there no reply to that?
I will read out an extract from what the Minister said over the radio which I think would be a very effective reply. The interviewer asked him: "Are you saying that the present system of price control is too rigorous and needs to be loosened?" This is the Minister's reply: "No, I am not saying that it is too rigorous. I am saying that it is very effective. I am saying that if we get evidence that we have so robbed people of the profits they need to stay competitive we may have to loosen it a little in order to guarantee jobs and guarantee growth but I am rebutting the statement that prices are out of control."
Question No. 10.
How does the Minister reconcile that reply with his earlier statement that the Minister for Industry and Commerce did not say that it was not possible to operate strict price control?
I did not say that.
Would the Minister repeat the reply?
I think Deputy Briscoe is right in raising this matter because the first statement was somewhat ambiguous. Would the Minister now state emphatically that he does not intend to abolish or amend drastically the price control regulations which operated heretofore? If he does not do that, his earlier statement was certainly ambiguous.
Price control measures will be maintained as long as they are necessary to protect the consumer. I think that is unambiguous enough for anybody.
Question No. 10. The Chair wants to make some progress.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that his statement is somewhat ambiguous and would be at variance with the message of the Leader of the Labour Party before the last election when he said that the Labour Party is fighting this election, committed, as always, to policies of price control?
That is a different matter.
I am not the Parliamentary Secretary. The statement is not ambiguous.
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 10.
Has not the Minister in his budget statement implied that the Minister for Industry and Commerce will make a statement in the Dáil in the course of the budget debate which will apparently be in connection with the relaxation of prices in so far as they may affect employment?
The budget debate is not over yet. The Minister for Industry and Commerce will be speaking on it.
The Chair has called the next question.
Is the Minister preempting the Minister's reply in stating categorically that there will be no relaxation?
I am reading out the reply. Price control measures will be maintained as long as they are necessary to protect the consumer. That is clear enough for anybody.
Another abandoned promise.