Rise TD Paul Murphy has called on the Government to introduce consumer protection laws to impose price controls on hand sanitisers and face masks.
In what he described as "some really outrageous price gouging" Deputy Murphy said he had been contacted by over 2,000 people who gave examples of how those items were on sale for a lot more money than normal.
Some shops and pharmacies have been selling small bottles of hand sanitisers at €10 for 50mls and packets of 50 face masks for €150.
Paul Murphy said France had done the right thing by capping the prices of hand sanitisers and he said the Government could easily do the same here.
He said a change would not require new legislation, that the Consumer Protection Act (2007) would allow the Government to introduce new rules by Ministerial order.
Responding to the Taoiseach's announcement of widespread closures of schools and colleges and other moves to limit social interaction, the Rise TD said he welcomed them and that further radical measures to promote social distancing were required including the closure of non-essential workplaces.
He also called for more Covid-19 testing for those who work on the frontline.
Joining him at the press conference, Thomas O'Connor from the NBRU said today's moves to contain the virus are a step in the right direction and that public transport continuing was important as a necessity for the public.
Mr O'Connor said the union has been "inundated" with calls from members who are concerned about their safety in terms of the virus spreading on public transport and called on the Government to provide hand gels and proper sanitation.
The NBRU senior representative called for all public transport unions to be represented on the public transport co-ordinating group being set up by the NTA in response to Covid-19.
