The Government will agree a comprehensive package of measures to combat inflation on Tuesday, the Tanaiste said. Ms Harney added that some of the measures would require amending legislation, and that would be done as quickly as possible.

She was replying to the Fine Gael spokesman on finance, Mr Michael Noonan, who asked when the measures requiring legislation would be enacted. The party's deputy leader, Mrs Nora Owen, asked if the Dail, which is due to go into recess next week, would have to be recalled "to tackle this serious problem". Otherwise, she said, the legislation would not be enacted until October.

Ms Harney said some short-term temporary actions could be taken but the medium- and longterm issues required legislation, particularly those dealing with competition in the economy.

Mr Noonan said that price-control measures, enacted by private order, would have to be placed before the House for 21 days. "The lateness of the session makes it impossible for the Government to do anything of this nature until the autumn."

Ms Harney said orders had to be placed before the House and could be annulled within 21 sitting days.