asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether he has received reports that the price of meat has been increased in Dublin recently; and, if so, whether he has had the reports investigated: and, further, if meat prices have been increased, the steps he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Meat Prices.
My attention has been drawn to a report which appeared in a Dublin morning newspaper on the 30th January, 1951, that the price of meat had been increased by 2d. per lb. by a number of Dublin victuallers. In connection with the report, I would draw the Deputy's attention to a statement by the Prices Advisory Body published in the Press on the 31st January, 1951, to the effect that no application had been made to that body for any increase in the prices specified in the Fresh Meat (Maximum) Prices Order, 1948, and, accordingly, that body has made no recommendation, and no alteration had been made in these prices.
It was further stated that any case in which higher prices are charged for meat than those fixed by the meat prices Order should be reported.
In any case of contravention of the meat prices Order, in which adequate evidence is available, I propose to have legal proceedings instituted.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say how the public can co-operate in the enforcement of the Order by reporting offences against it if he will not take steps to publish to the public the legal maximum prices for the goods concerned?
I do not know how often it is expected that prices should be published. The prices referred in the maximum prices Order were published in 1948.
The Parliamentary Secretary is aware that this Order was made in January and fixed maximum prices prevailing in the week ending 2nd December, 1950. Does he not think it necessary that somebody should publish what the prices were in that week so that the public can co-operate with the Department's inspectors in making them effective?
When a similar Order was made in 1944 no attempt was made then.
But the prices were not fixed retrospectively.
There was a standstill Order in 1944 and no attempt was made at that time to publish lists of the prices prevailing in a particular week.
No. Not merely was the Order not retrospective, but there was a regular practice of publishing every week the maximum prices enforceable under the Order.
When the Standstill Order, 1944, was made, it fixed prices at a particular period, in June, 1944. No price list, other than a price list dealing with a particular commodity, at any time, was published.
Is not this the fact, that the Parliamentary Secretary cannot publish the maximum prices for many of these goods because he does not know them and, if he does not know them, how can be expect the public to know them?
The remaining questions will appear on to-morrow's Order Paper.