FG leads fight for consumer on cost hikes

THERE can be no excuse for the exorbitant prices being charged by some leading British retail chains in this country which stand accused, and rightly so, of blatantly ripping off consumers.

That Irish people are paying through the nose for most goods is well documented in studies ranking Ireland among Europe’s most expensive places.

Further damning proof, if it were needed, has come from a Fine Gael survey which claims that Ireland’s rip-off epidemic is catching.

With Fine Gael still seeking to re-invent itself in the wake of a shattering general election defeat, the party deserves to be commended for taking on a new-found role as committed defender of the hard pressed

consumer.

Carried out earlier this week, the price survey compared the cost of a random selection of goods available to both Irish and British customers of Tesco, Habitat, Argos, Marks and Spencer and Dixons.

According to the findings, Tesco had the biggest mark-up.

Basically, it found a basket of five Tesco items was 43% dearer in Ireland than the cost of the same items at its high street outlets in Britain, an exercise rejected by the group as highly selective and dangerously misleading.

Irish customers of Habitat and Argos were also found to be paying more while prices in Dixons and Marks and Spencer were almost identical in both Ireland and Britain.

According to Fine Gael’s finance spokesman, Richard Bruton, there was no obvious reason for the price

differential.

Politically, Fine Gael is mining a rich vein by taking the punter’s side in its new-look, consumer-friendly, value-for-money policy campaign.

In stark contrast with its draconian plan to tax children’s shoes, a policy that brought down a FG-Labour coalition, the party has realised that consumers’ determination to find value for their hard-earned euro is becoming more prevalent and money in the pocket is dear to the heart of every voter.

The price survey will re-focus an embarrassing spotlight on the Coalition’s advice to consumers who were famously exhorted by Tánaiste Mary Harney to shop around to get value for money.

In theory, the choice lies with consumers who invariably get the same advice from statutory agencies. But, in reality, there can be no denying that prices are inexorably rising in Ireland.

With barely a chink of light between the three parties on main-stream economic policies, Fine Gael hopes to find a credible role as the consumer’s champion.

Aptly enough, the party’s campaign website is called ripoff.ie.