Madam, - With regard to Jonathan Baum's letter (February 2nd) one can always cite individual items to argue the case either way.
For example, just a few nights ago in the centre of Dublin I had a perfectly satisfying meal in a lively, atmospheric restaurant where the bill for two, including a bottle of wine, came to €46. Last year in Barcelona I had to walk out of a restaurant in embarrassment on finding that the cheapest meal on the menu was €58.
Of course there are much cheaper meals in Barcelona and elsewhere on the Continent and in the UK, but often you will find that the customers and staff are less well paid than we are for the same work. Everything is relative and subject to the law of supply and demand.
Most of the complaints I've heard about "Rip-off Ireland" have been made over a table laden down with good food and wine! It has become a catch-cry and we should be ashamed of ourselves when so many millions in the world are much worse off than we are.
The only real rip-off I know is the cost of a glass of Guinness, which should be half the price of a pint but is much more, thus encouraging people to drink twice as much. - Yours, etc.,
JAMES EVANS,
Lower Churchtown Road,
Dublin 14.