DUBLIN publicans have been told to withdraw a 5p price rise on the pint or face a price standstill order, deputies were told.
The Minister of State for Commerce and Technology, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said he had yesterday met the Licensed Vintners' Association, which had recommended price restraint recently. A minority of publicans, however, had imposed an increase before Christmas and others had followed with increases over the last week.
He had agreed with the vintners' association to call on the publicans who imposed the increase to withdraw it. If they failed to do so he would make a price freezing order retrospective to November 1996.
The Prices Acts were still in place, although in abeyance, and he also had power to order an investigation under the more recent Competition Act, he said in an adjournment debate.
Mr Rabbitte was responding to Ms Mary O'Rourke, Fianna Fail deputy leader, who said that in a unilateral action up to 30 per cent of publicans had increased the price. "A pint in moderation is one of life's few pleasures," she said. "Those who raised the price injudiciously should be told to bring it back down again."
Earlier, the increase was strongly criticised by the Taoiseach. "I regard it as not justified," said Mr Bruton.
Speaking n the Order of Business, he said he was aware of concerns that the possibility of making increases on a concerted basis was facilitated by the licensing laws which were administered by the State.