Political will needed to end rip-off

THERE is much meat in the 600-page investigation

Not surprisingly, the report shows that the rules and regulations of many professional bodies have resulted in unnecessarily high prices for consumers. Basically, it found that if anti-competitive practices were removed, costs could fall by up to 30%.

With Ireland now seen as the rip-off centre of Europe, the report gives an insight into the fees charged by professionals ranging from solicitors to barristers, doctors, vets, surgeons, dentists, optometrists, engineers and architects.