Vol. 518 No. 4
139 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to reintroduce price control on drink in view of the considerable increase being levied by some pubs; the present control or notification system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12114/00]
Since the 1980s, the policy of successive Governments has been to promote greater competition and consumer choice, including through the mechanism of greater price transparency. I have no plans to reintroduce price control on drink products.
Last August, I made an order entitled the Retail Price (Beverages in Licensed Premises) Display Order, 1999, which requires publicans to display their prices immediately outside or immediately inside their premises. I believe that consumers must be given fair warning of the prices being charged before they enter a pub so that they can take their custom elsewhere if they believe those prices to be unreasonably high.
The Retail Price (Beverages in Licensed Premises) Display Order is endorsed by the Director of Consumer Affairs. In that regard, I understand that a systematic enforcement operation is under way in relation to the order and that a number of publicans have received final warnings regarding their non-compliance with the order.
