Comparative prices for consumer goods
Desmond pressed for weekly publication of comparative retail prices and challenged the referral to the National Prices Commission. Geoghegan-Quinn said the Commission was considering the proposal and would report shortly; paid advertising would be expensive, while press-release publication was not guaranteed.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy when it is intended to commence the full dissemination, at least once a week, to radio, television and newspapers of comparative prices of the most frequently purchased consumer goods in supermarkets and other retail outlets in different parts of the country.
Comment on this
The dissemination of information on comparative prices of the most frequently purchased consumer goods was raised by the Minister at his meeting with the National Prices Commission on 27th July, 1977. The commission are at present considering the matter and I expect a report on the subject from them in the near future.
Comment on this
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there was no reference in the original public assurance given by the Minister to the fact that such dissemination would take place, and that he did not intend to refer the matter to the National Prices Commission as he now apparently has done?
Comment on this
I am not so aware. He has now referred it to the National Prices Commission and, as I indicated in reply to another question, they are due to report within the next two weeks.
Comment on this
May I refer the Parliamentary Secretary to the specific statement in the Fianna Fáil manifesto which made no reference to the Prices Commission? They have now sent it off to this body who, according to the Minister, Deputy O'Malley, were incapable of proper investigations of applications.
Comment on this
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say if any estimate has been made in her Department of the likely cost of advertising these prices in the various media which would be incurred by her Department in the implementation of this proposal?
Comment on this
It would be very expensive if the prices were to be published as paid advertisements. However, if they were issued as a Press release it would be at the discretion of the editor of the newspaper to decide to publish or not. A Press release to RTE would be up against the same problem. In the Department we are aware that the reaction of RTE to the proposal would be favourable were it to be found favourable by the National Prices Commission.
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