Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004
32 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the call from the Consumers Association of Ireland for some system of price transparency which would allow consumers to see the person exactly responsible for inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23670/04]
View answerMy officials have worked closely with the Central Statistics Office, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, the Consumers Association of Ireland and Forfás on the issue of price transparency. This led to the publication last July, for the first time, of the CSO consumer prices average price analysis for Dublin and outside Dublin, for May 2004. My Department proposes to continue to work with these interested parties to consider if there is further potential to build on this CSO work in the area of prices to enhance price transparency for consumers.
The National Competitiveness Council and the Competition Authority, for instance, undertake on a continuous basis, investigations into the competitiveness of the Irish economy and the level of competition within it. These investigations highlight the key areas that require attention to enhance Ireland's competitiveness and economic performance. The National Competitiveness Council, in its statement on prices and costs 2004, this September noted that both prices and wages in Ireland had been rising faster than in other EU countries for a number of years and makes recommendations across a range of policy areas, that is, fiscal, competition and regulation, trade, incomes and labour market.
With regard to other sources of price transparency the ongoing work of the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs which has published and highlighted the results of price surveys on products such as CDs, petrol, potatoes, over-the-counter medicines, car insurance and drink price increases coinciding with major sporting and social events.
The consumer strategy group was established last March to advise on the development of a national consumer policy strategy. In the performance of this role the group is initiating studies which should demonstrate objectively whether or not Irish consumers are getting a fair deal. The group is due to produce a final report to me by the end of 2004.
