Restaurants move - More action needed to end rip-off

The Restaurants Association of Ireland is hitting back at Ireland’s growing reputation as a rip-off country.

Over the years people expected cheaper prices in Spain and Portugal, but they traditionally expected to pay more in countries like France, Italy and Germany. Now, with the advent of the euro the true price comparisons are apparent and there is a growing realisation that we are pricing ourselves out of the tourist market.

If nobody is prepared to defend what is happening here, maybe it is time that the restaurant owners realised that even Irish consumers think they are being ripped-off. The trade's effort to counteract the image by providing a nationwide "value menu" should be welcomed.