Vol. 518 No. 6
122 Ms Clune asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the increase in prices charged by publicans in the past year; the action she will take in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12560/00]
While I am aware of reports of increases in drink prices from CSO press releases, media reports, etc., specific detailed information in relation to price increases is not available to my Department. Since the 1980s the policy of successive Governments has been to promote greater competition and consumer choice, including through the mechanism of greater price transparency, rather than through statutory price control.
Last August, I made an order entitled the Retail Price (Beverages in Licensed Premises) Display Order, 1999, which requires publicans to display certain prices immediately outside or immediately inside their premises. I believe that consumers must be given fair warning of the prices being charged before they enter a pub so that they can take their custom elsewhere if they believe those prices to be unreasonably high.
The Retail Price (Beverages in Licensed Premises) Display Order is enforced by the Director of Consumer Affairs. In that regard, I understand that a systematic enforcement operation is under way in relation to the order and that a number of publicans have received final warnings regarding their non-compliance with the order, in advance of a final inspection to determine whether prosecutions should be initiated.
