Deputy Calleary, who is a member of the Enterprise Committee, said he intends to put the findings of a report commissioned by the Tanaiste Mary Coughlan, on the comparative cost of operating retail businesses in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Britain and the Netherlands, to the retail leaders.

That report stated that, while operating costs are higher in Ireland than in the North, the difference in prices is substantially higher than the difference that could understandably exist as a result of operating costs, Deputy Calleary said.

“The report commissioned by the Tanaiste found that while operating costs in Dublin were on average 25 per cent of the total cost of the retail good, such costs should only justify a five to six per cent differential in the retail price of the same good between Dublin and Belfast.

“So while the report accepts that prices in Dublin could reasonably be five to six per cent higher than in the North because of operating costs, it also found that the actual difference is actually substantially higher.

“Operating costs in other Irish cities are not as high as in Dublin and were more in line with cities in the UK.

“The Enterprise Committee has invited retail industry leaders to come before us in January and I look forward to quizzing them on these results. There may be other reasons for the price differences and I look forward to exploring these also.

“In the run up to Christmas this year more than ever we have seen the price difference affect our own retailers. Teamed with a weak sterling pound, this has left many businesses, particularly those on the border, see a considerable decline in business.

“The Government is committed to improving the cost competitiveness of the business environment but businesses must now also pass on the benefit of a stronger euro to the consumer,” concluded Deputy Calleary.

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