Word on the street is that everything is more expensive here

Reaction Gareth O'Neill (26) says he is leaving Ireland "soon" and maintains that the cost of living has a lot to do with it.

The well-travelled technician from Portobello in Dublin says that everything from clothes, transport and going out are dearer here.

He said that he was shopping for jeans and had found that brands such as Diesel, which cost about €80 in Germany, are €110 here.

"Going out is definitely more expensive. You'd spend €30 on a few quiet pints, anything around €150 for a full-on night out. Going to a club in Germany, you pay €8 for a top DJ, and about €30 here."

Marie Glyn, a civil servant from Co Westmeath, had just had lunch of pizza and a soft drink with a friend. "It was €40 for two people. It'd put you off going out. It's definitely getting more and more expensive. Clothes, shoes, groceries in particular. I just notice the weekly shop has gone up a lot over the last few months."

Ms Pauline Tobin-Smith, a widow living alone, said that her food shopping in Dunnes Stores was costing her more and more.

"I buy meat from a butcher in Meath Street and last week I bought four lamb chops. They cost €18 and I was surprised. Dry-cleaning has gone up, too. I had trousers and a light cardigan cleaned there, which cost €11.20."

Mr Paul Carolan, a farmer from Co Louth, was in Dublin for the day with his wife and two daughters. He said he could "well believe" the report that Ireland had become the most expensive country in the EU.

"You see it in pubs, restaurants and groceries. We just notice the groceries bill going up almost each week, and we're not buying anything extra.

"At Christmas, myself and my wife went out with another couple for pasta and wine, and it cost €179."

Asked whether this makes him angry, he says that it does. "But what's the point in getting angry. What can you do?"