Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:13 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the latest inflation figures; and if he will give the projected inflation figures for 2001. [14246/01]
Vol. 536 No. 4
13 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the latest inflation figures; and if he will give the projected inflation figures for 2001. [14246/01]
23 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the degree to which he has monitored factors contributing to inflation; if there are indicators of contributory causes arising from items not included in the consumer price index; if so, the nature and origin of such factors; the measures taken or to be taken to combat these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14327/01]
124 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which the inflation rate compares on a favourable basis to that in other EU member states with particular reference to the euro zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14448/01]
129 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that Ireland can maintain a competitive edge in world markets notwithstanding recent indicators of continued inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14455/01]
130 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he has identified the main contributory factors to current and projected inflation rates; the action or actions taken to curb inflationary tendencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14456/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 23, 124, 129 and 130 together.
Ireland's inflation rate as measured by the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, HICP, stood at 4.3% in the year to April 2001 well down from the peak of 6.0% in November 2000. The Netherlands at 5.3% and Portugal at 4.6% had higher April inflation figures than Ireland. The euro zone annual average for April was 2.9% compared to 2.6% for March. The consumer price index, CPI, for April was an annual rate of 5.6% compared with its November 2000 high point of 7.0%.