Need for greater price transparency

IT’S official — Ireland is the No 1 rip-off country in Europe.

This unenviable distinction has been conferred by state-run consumer agency Forfás, and the question people are asking is what the Government is doing about it? To its discredit, the answer is nothing.

In fact, the Government is mainly to blame for the relentless price hikes that put Ireland 12% above the eurozone average.