asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will comment on the fact that the percentage increase in consumer prices in Ireland from 1963 to 1969 was 35 per cent whereas in Belgium over the same period prices rose by 26 per cent, in France 26 per cent, in Germany 16 per cent, in Norway 28 per cent and in the United Kingdom by 30 per cent; and what measures he intends to introduce to offset this alarming trend in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consumer Prices.
17.
The present system of control on manufacturers', importers' and wholesalers' prices was introduced in 1965, and since then, price increases at these levels have, in general, only been sufficient to compensate in part for unavoidable increases in costs.
The figures given by the Deputy would indicate that costs have increased more rapidly in this country than in the countries named by him.
Would the Minister accept that that particular data is a clear indictment of the failure of Government policy to arrest these rather disturbing trends and more particularly of the failure to produce a prices and incomes policy?
There is no doubt that the increases have been brought about by increases in costs and so on. It is very difficult to make the type of arrangement which would be necessary in order to limit the increase in costs which the Deputy envisages here.