The Chief Executive of the National Consumer Agency has said it is up to Irish consumers themselves to drive competition.
Speaking to the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee, Ann Fitzgerald said Ireland has been seen by international companies as a place where profit can be maximised, thereby subsidising other locations where people are more price aware.
Ms Fitzgerald also said that the NCA does not believe the pricing problem in Ireland is just a UK subsidiary issue.
Ann Fitzgerald said the NCA believes that UK subsidiaries are a large part of the problem and they have identified 100 subsidiaries of UK multi-nationals in Ireland, but that there is a problem within Ireland itself.
Ms Fitzgerald said following her meetings with Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment Mary Coughlan yesterday and last week, the NCA is going to conduct far more surveys.
She said this would include a cross-border survey and a survey comparing prices in domestic companies in Ireland and its overseas competitors.
These surveys will focus mainly on groceries but also on other household items, she said.
