IHF warns new agency could be 'empty vessel'
The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has warned the National Consumer Agency could become an "empty vessel" unless there is a root and branch approach to reduce the cost of doing business in Ireland.
The IHF said the Government and public agencies must assist bringing operating costs of businesses in line with those of other European countries.
According to the IHF, tourism providers have witnessed cumulative increases of up to 30% in the last two years on services and costs outside their control.
The Federation said while it believes the establishment of this new body is commendable, however the real issue that needs to be addressed is the exorbitant costs of State and Local Authority services.
“Nobody wants to see consumers being overcharged, least of all the tourism industry where we depend on repeat business to sustain growth. However, the simple fact is that Ireland is now a very expensive place to run a business," said John Power, IHF chief executive.
"If the Government is putting watchdogs in place to monitor businesses, it must balance this action with a similar mechanism to monitor the increases in costs and the abuse of monopoly positions being operated by State and Local Authority service providers.
"This new National Consumer Agency is in danger of becoming a talking shop unless the Government takes a firm hand in reigning in business costs.”
