Irish trade and enterprise minister Mary Harney has ruled out what she termed "Soviet-style price controls" to combat claims of retail rip-offs and excessive profit margins, after the opposition called for legislation compelling retailers to display their mark-up on products.
Fine Gael's Richard Bruton claimed retail rip-offs were costing every Irish household E1,000 a year. He cited milk at 87c a litre, three times the farmgate price, and beef producers supplying at E2.30/kg while shoppers paid E7.40/kg.
The Irish Farmers' Association has claimed supermarkets were imposing a 100% mark-up on lamb prices.
In response, the Small Firms' Association said businesses had to cope with escalating insurance premiums,higher wages, dearer energy, plus the impact of traffic congestion on distribution costs.
Harney advised consumers to use their collective muscle by being "more demanding and by shopping around".
{{NEWS }}
Fine Gael's Richard Bruton claimed retail rip-offs were costing every Irish household E1,000 a year. He cited milk at 87c a litre, three times the farmgate price, and beef producers supplying at E2.30/kg while shoppers paid E7.40/kg.
The Irish Farmers' Association has claimed supermarkets were imposing a 100% mark-up on lamb prices.
In response, the Small Firms' Association said businesses had to cope with escalating insurance premiums,higher wages, dearer energy, plus the impact of traffic congestion on distribution costs.
Harney advised consumers to use their collective muscle by being "more demanding and by shopping around".
{{NEWS }}
No comments yet