I apologise for not being available at the appropriate slot. I thank the Tánaiste for being here to introduce the Revised Estimate. The manner in which Estimates are discussed in the Houses of the Oireachtas leaves much to be desired. We are now debating money that is already largely spent. The system of reform required to ensure we get better value for money requires greater scrutiny and accountability in the Houses of the Oireachtas as well as in the agencies spending the money. For a long time we have paid lip service to this point. We hear glowing remarks about the need for greater value for money and accountability. However, we see no proposals as to how we can achieve that.
During July and September in advance of the publication of the Estimates the committee system in the Houses of the Oireachtas is required to have an input into the Vote for the following year and should have some level of scrutiny in addition to the Committee of Public Accounts over how the money was spent during the year. The discussion of Revised Estimates affords an opportunity to consider some of the expenditure proposals agreed earlier in the year. However, 99.9% of the decisions have already been taken. The system by which we discuss these matters and get accountability leaves much to be desired.
The country has excellent economic statistics but lower disposable income. This has arisen because of many impositions by the State through additional charges and taxation and a failure by the State to investigate the rip-off and overcharging taking place in the private sector and in the provision of public utilities across the board. Those in business here know there is a little abatement in high insurance costs, arising from a reform agenda introduced by the Tánaiste, which I welcomed at the time and is slowly making its way onto the Statute Book. I hope this will also have an impact in lowering public liability insurance costs, particularly for small businesses.
We have seen a small amelioration in motor insurance costs but have not yet seen the same in public liability. While the Personal Injuries Assessment Board was established six months late, I welcome that it is now operational. I would like to see an interim report to this committee and the Houses of the Oireachtas on the operation of the PIAB at the earliest opportunity to determine whether further assistance is required to take on what I regard as a quasi-cartel in the insurance sector that works to ensure premiums remain high.
The State has a direct control over the high cost of public utilities, including energy costs through the ESB and gas provision; the rollout of broadband; telecommunications costs; and waste management costs through local authorities. All these feed into higher than usual demands on business enterprises which, to help balance their books, release employees or go through a work permit system that is open to abuse to acquire cheap labour. Much remains to be done on labour policy to protect individual employment opportunities and rights and effect proper reform of the work permit system.
Competitiveness is a buzzword that is often bandied about. However, competitiveness here is heading in the wrong direction and we are rapidly going down the league. We are now regularly challenged, particularly in the manufacturing sector, by eastern Europe and the Far East because of our lack of competitiveness. This is largely due to the matters to which I have just referred which have contributed to higher establishment costs here for indigenous as well as foreign business.
While yesterday's annual report of IDA Ireland contains a very interesting foreword from the chief executive Mr. Dorgan highlighting the need to refocus and look again at where we are going on these matters, we get this in every annual report. Frankly, I believe Mr. Dorgan should find something different to say because there is increasing competition on the ground that is not yielding any regional policy development through IDA Ireland as promised by him and the Tánaiste on many occasions.
The disgraceful investment in the south-east and the midlands, as evidenced by these figures, is a clear indication that we have failed to make any impact in regional policy terms through IDA Ireland to generate inward investment and job opportunities particularly in those regions. Just because the sun shines more regularly in a region, it does not mean that the people there are necessarily better off although those in tourism may depend on the weather. Mr. Dorgan has not delivered manufacturing employment for the south-east of the country. As the Chairman will know from his experience of the midlands, there have been many announcements, but little delivery. The figures speak for themselves as to whether we are making any meaningful impact on jobs in the sector. While we may have a low level of unemployment, regional development is not working here.
Some months ago the Tánaiste admitted that we had no consumer policy when she established a consumer strategy group. This is another group to tell her what she should know already after seven years in office. The recommendations of this group will be very interesting as I am sure they will merely restate many of the policy initiatives suggested by the Consumer Association of Ireland or by the political parties in Opposition over many years which have not been listened to by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to date. I have advocated the establishment of a consumer rights enforcer with similar powers to the Ombudsman to allow proper investigation of consumer complaints so that those involved in ripping off others are subject to some investigation and that redress may be made.
The fines that currently exist under the Consumer Information Act 1978 should be reviewed. The maximum fine for breach of price display regulations is €127, which is a joke. Those fines, which have never been changed, should be increased to €3,000 or €4,000. If overcharging exists and redress is required, the offenders must be hit in the pocket. People will certainly take notice if their pockets are deficient as a result of the imposition of a penalty. Only then will they do something. The sum of €127 will not make any retail outlet yawn at the prospect of a failure to put in place a price display system. I ask the Tánaiste to bring forward the consumer strategy group recommendations quickly as it is a very urgent matter. Household incomes have radically reduced as a result of what is happening in the economy. Everyone who goes on holidays can see the extent of the rip-off which is taking place in Ireland with Dublin, for example, being the fourth most expensive city in the world according to a recent survey.
There is a lot done and more to do. I ask the Tánaiste to look in particular at regional policy initiatives to facilitate balanced regional development through the IDA. She should also consider ways in which to speed up the process of implementing major policy changes in the consumer area. A review of the operations of the PIAB should be brought to this committee before the end of the year to ascertain if changes are necessary. If they are, the committee will be constructively helpful to ensure that insurance premiums decrease more rapidly, particularly in the liability insurance area, in the interests of employment.