The chairman of the National Consumer Agency has said it is suffering from a 'major shortfall' in staff.
In the October Budget, the Government announced plans to amalgamate the agency and the Competition Authority. In the NCA's annual report, Stephen Costello said he was committed to ensuring that the new body worked in the best interests of consumers.
He said consumers were more vulnerable at a time of recession and the need for a strong protection agency was more important than ever, but it needed staff to work effectively. Mr Costello said redeployment of staff from other areas of the public service was a priority.
Meanwhile, the agency's chief executive Ann Fitzgerald said the benefits to consumers from the euro's dramatic rise against sterling in recent months had been 'hugely disappointing'. She said the reasons given by retailers did not fully explain the lack of progress in passing these benefits on to consumers.
Ms Fitzgerald said the agency believed businesses had been setting prices according to what the market in the Republic would bear, but they would have to re-think this as consumers were more cash-strapped.
