The former Taoiseach, Mr John Bruton, has urged the Tánaiste to confront "unjustifiable" price rises by insisting on greater transparency in sectors where inflation has been highest.

Accusing banks, the medical profession, sporting groups, transport providers, hoteliers and restaurateurs of unwarranted price increases, Mr Bruton said such professions should be forced to display current charges and the equivalent for the same period last year.

County councils could in addition be encouraged to carry out comparative price analysis on a regular basis, Mr Bruton suggested.

"The publication of these targeted price surveys identifying individual suppliers and their prices would help people to shop around in their own locality and would deter future price increases," he said.

"No sector would want to find itself the target of such selective surveys and \ could exercise significant downward pressure on prices."

The Tánaiste should pay closer attention to the consumer price index and compare charges with those across the euro zone, according to Mr Bruton.

"It is vital that Government shows it has the will and the ability to use its power to deal with major problems facing people and, at the moment, price increases and the jobs problems they are causing are the major problems facing the people," he said.

A spokesman for Ms Harney said the Tánaiste welcomed any suggestions that would combat inflation but that she is opposed to price controls.