asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to reports (details supplied) regarding changes in the prices of 29 commodities since Decimal Day; and if his Department has any evidence of these price increases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price Fluctuations.
93.
I have seen the Press report to which the Deputy refers about price fluctuations since Decimal Day for 29 commodities in one Dublin supermarket. Except for milk in Dublin and in a few country areas, I do not exercise statutory control over retail prices but, nevertheless, I have all complaints received about excessive retail prices investigated by my Department.
The Press report in question indicated a reduction in the prices of seven commodities, no change in the prices of seven commodities and an increase in the prices of 15 commodities. Of the 15 commodities where prices were increased, six were agricultural produce where prices fluctuate frequently according to market conditions; the remaining nine commodities were manufactured goods and in the period since Decimal Day I informed the manufacturers of seven of these commodities that I would raise no objection to certain increases in the prices of their products to compensate for unavoidable cost increases.
Can the Minister say if he has any evidence that customers find they are being overcharged. either accidentally or otherwise, because of failure of either the customer or the person selling the goods to have an adequate knowledge of the coinage now in use?
Naturally, I would not have any written complaints in this regard. I cannot say that I have any experience of such practices, except difficulties in my own dealings.
I am glad the Minister has admitted to such difficulties because on more than one occasion I have been given wrong change. The usual excuse has been that the person giving the change was confused by the new currency. Has the Minister any inspectors employed on checking whether this excuse is being used by any particular category of traders as a device to get more money than they are entitled to?
If one were to seek openly complaints of that nature, he would get them. To a limited extent, I have experience of the type of complaint referred to by the Deputy but this limited experience indicates that mistakes can be made on both sides. The assistant behind the counter, as well as making the mistake of giving too little change, can also give too much.
The Minister must have been very lucky because I did not experience any mistakes that were to my benefit. Would the Minister not agree that it would be more likely that mistakes of issuing insufficient change would be more likely to occur in the case of an old age pensioner than in the case of the Minister for Industry and Commerce?
Not necessarily so. Most old age pensioners are cuter than is the Minister for Industry and Commerce.
There is a tendency on the part of some people to engage in such practice but I hope the evidence will be sufficient to prevent recurrences.