The great rip-off - Time to slash soaring prices

EVER since the EU introduced the euro a blatant rip-off has been going on in virtually every facet of Irish life.

Visitors and Irish people alike have been hit where it hurts in their pockets. Prices soared in shops, pubs, hotels and restaurants, not to mention housing, medicine and education.

This country is the rip-off capital of the EU. Making matters worse, the jealously guarded image of Ireland of the Welcomes has been severely tarnished as visitors seem more likely to encounter surliness than a smile nowadays.

With most overseas visitors finding this country bad value for money, it is no wonder the flow of tourists from the Continent is falling steadily. Voting with their feet, they are spending their holidays, and their money, elsewhere.

A revealing Bord Fáilte survey out today found only 43% of overseas visitors regarded Ireland as good value. This contrasts with 58% in 2001 and 61% in 2000.

Following the decline in American tourists after the September 11 atrocity, Ireland needs more European visitors. So, it is worrying that only 24% of EU tourists feel they get good value here.

In Ireland, prices have increased by 22% since 1966 compared with only 11% in the rest of the EU. Despite Government pledges that the euro would not inflate prices, they have soared as service providers put up costs across the board. Meanwhile, politicians who feathered their own nests with huge salary and pension increases sat on their hands as prices escalated.

Unless steps are taken to bring prices down and bring this country's cost regime more into line with the European average, the tourism industry will continue to deteriorate.

It is time to end the national rip-off and give tourists and Irish people alike better value for money.