Vol. 529 No. 4
86 Mr. Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to claims made by a person (details supplied) that cartels may be costing Irish consumers as much as £500 million per year; the plans she has to deal with these anti-competitive practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3019/01]
My attention has been drawn to the estimate of £500 million per annum as the possible cost to Irish consumers of cartels in Ireland. This number is based on US Department of Justice estimates that cartels result in prices, on average, being 10% higher than would otherwise be the case. The estimate also assumes that one-tenth of all goods and services purchased by consumers in Ireland are affected by cartels. While it is difficult, for obvious reasons, to be precise about the possible scale of damage to consumers and to the economy generally caused by cartel behaviour, estimates such as that referred to in the question are useful in raising public awareness of the possible extent of the problem and of the need for continued vigilance in relation to it.
