I understand that the claim to which the Deputy refers was made in campaign literature during the recent Scottish referendum campaign where prices at a named retailer in Ireland were used as a basis to suggest that shopping in Scotland could cost more if the referendum succeeded.
I am aware, of course, of the concerns that have been expressed in relation to the differential in consumer prices between this country and certain other jurisdictions and particularly in the case of our nearest neighbour, the United Kingdom. Recent statistics published by the Central Statistics Office show that consumer prices on average were 0.4% higher in August 2014 when compared with prices prevailing in August 2013. The latest EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), which is accepted as the most appropriate measure for community wide comparisons (and is also published by the Central Statistics Office), show that price index levels increased in Ireland by 0.36% in the 12 month period between August 2013 and July 2014. Price index levels increased across the EU by 0.44% for the same period while in the UK, the Index shows that price index levels rose by 1.5% in the period between August 2013 and June 2014 (the latest UK figures at the time of publication).
The Government is fully committed to pursuing the competitiveness agenda, including in the area of prices so as to ensure that Irish consumers receive and can expect to receive a fair deal in the goods and services that they buy. Changes in patterns of consumer behaviour in recent years have also prompted grocery retailers to respond by offering keener prices, better value and more competition in terms of the options open to consumers when they purchase grocery goods.
