Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 3

Written Answers. - Euro Changeover.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

142 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reports she has received from the Director of Consumer Affairs on the surveys she has undertaken to determine if retailers are taking advantage of the changeover to the euro to increase prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28639/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt):

The purpose of the first two surveys carried out by the Director of Consumer Affairs under the action plan, 2000-01, to protect consumers as far as possible against unwarranted price rises during the changeover to the euro was to establish the level of dual pricing taking place in retail outlets and the display of and correct use of the conversion rate and rounding rules.

The first survey was undertaken during November 2000. Inspectors of the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs surveyed 620 premises. In 30% of the premises surveyed there was evidence of at least some dual pricing of products on sale; less than 3% of premises actually displayed the euro conversion rate; 35% had dual priced the total figures on till receipts issued; less than 20% had the euro conversion rate shown on till receipts; 27% of the total premises surveyed had used the conversion rate correctly. The remainder had either not used the rate at all or else had used it incorrectly. The incorrect usage of the rate use was brought to the attention of the retailers involved.

The second survey conducted by the director was carried out in May 2001 and was to compare results with the November 2000 survey. A total of 600 premises were surveyed. Results of this survey showed that 41% of premises surveyed showed some evidence of dual pricing – an increase of just over ten percentage points on the November survey. Some 40% had dual displayed the total figure on the till receipts which was also an improvement on the last survey when the comparable figure was 35%. Although display of the conversion rate on in-store displays continued to be low, 21% of those surveyed had actually shown it on the till receipt. Of those showing dual display of total price on the till receipt, 92% used the conversion and rounding rules correctly. Again, incorrect use of the rounding rules was brought to the attention of retailers concerned.

The purpose of the third survey carried out over three weeks last month was to check compliance by subscribers with the commitments under the national and sectoral codes of practice on dual display of prices. The objective of these codes is to provide for transparency in pricing during the changeover period and to empower consumers with the information they need to make well-informed purchasing decisions. Subscribers to the codes are entitled to display a special logo devised by the Director of Consumer Affairs as evidence of a commitment to implement the changeover fairly and not to seek financial advantage from the conversion. Almost 1,900 premises were surveyed and the results, which are being compiled at present, will be published later this week.