asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will indicate the foods that have come down in price since 15th March, 1973.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Prices.
26.
Manufacturers, importers and traders are not required to give me notice of reductions in prices. It is not possible, therefore, to give a definitive answer to the Deputy's question. The report of the National Prices Commission for August/September, copies of which were laid before the Dáil, does, however, contain a report on retail price surveys carried out during the year, with some details of movements of prices of specific items in Dublin between February and September. The removal of VAT from food as from 3rd September last resulted in an overall reduction of about 5 per cent in food prices generally at that date.
But to what does that 5 per cent refer? What was the basis of the 5 per cent? Is the Minister suggesting that there was a 5 per cent reduction in the price of food generally as against the prices of food, say, six months prior to that?
No, the price of food on the 3rd September came down by 5 per cent in relation to the price before VAT was removed from food. It was part of our 14 point programme and it was one of the promises we kept. We said we would remove VAT from food and we did so.
Prices were rising steadily before that.
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