Hobbs doing politicians’ job for them

NOBODY would deny the right of businesses to lobby politicians in order to protect their interests.

But there is a worrying sense of Ireland’s too familiar nod-and-wink culture about the intense campaign now gathering momentum to stop the Groceries Order being axed. With TDs and ministers being personally lobbied by IBEC and RG DATA, powerful groups with vested interests in this issue, it would be hard to blame consumers for suspecting the Government could cave into mounting pressure from these powerful bodies.

Coalition backbenchers have been thrown into disarray by growing perceptions that the administration is responsible for Ireland’s unenviable reputation as the rip-off centre of Europe.