Ireland is graveyard for consumers, claims FG
At the launch of its new Consumer Charter, Fine Gael’s finance spokesman Richard Bruton claimed that Ireland had become a “graveyard” for consumers following sustained increases in the cost of electricity, gas and transport.
“There is no question but that this Government has become too closely aligned with powerful producer interests and it has blinded it to the needs of consumers,” he said.
His party colleague and enterprise spokesman Phil Hogan said the regulatory system in Ireland needed to be reviewed, adding that it was now necessary to replace the “weak and toothless National Consumer Association’’.
Mr Hogan questioned why the commission on energy regulation had proposed a 34% increase in electricity and gas in September but subsequently reviewed the proposals two months later following a “political furrow’’.
Fine Gael’s five-point Consumer Charter launched yesterday to mark its Consumer Week proposes to compensate consumers who lose their utility service for more than three hours in a 24 hour period.
The party’s consumer website ripoff.ie, which was launched in 2003 and received 400,000 hits last year, was also “re-launched” yesterday. However, the three-year-old website has not been updated recently by the Fine Gael party.
The most recent media article dates to May 2005 and the sole “taxi rip-off” submission focuses on the need to fix airport taxi fares and fares for lengthy journeys.
Consumers logging onto the website have complained of differing prices for alcohol, taxis, medical treatment and household goods. In one case, a pub in Dundalk is accused of charging an extra 20 cent to make a toasted sandwich with brown bread, instead of white.
