Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday he had not yet seen the controversial Rip-off Republic programme on RTÉ, which is presented by Eddie Hobbs, but would be doing so.
On his first official outing since the summer recess, Mr Ahern was questioned closely about his attitude to the Corkman whose consumer programmes have been generating major interest in recent weeks. However, an unruffled Mr Ahern said Mr Hobbs had been appointed by the Government to the National Consumer Agency.
"We, for the last number of years, have been putting forward very strongly our views on trying to control prices as best we can," he said.
"In the last three years inflation in the grocery areas and foodstuffs has been at 1 per cent and that compares well with anywhere," he said.
"However, we always have to ensure we have competition." He said anything that highlights prices was very useful.
"I know that he does the show and that it is a show for the audience. A lot of it is about putting a presentation rather than being factual, but I don't argue too much about that," the Taoiseach said.
However, he would argue when facts were involved.
"When Eddie would say that low taxation here is a myth . . . We know from OECD figures that our tax rate at 30 per cent is the lowest in Europe, and that is a fact," he said.
However, he (Hobbs) was out there highlighting prices and that was important, but he hated when facts were not dealt with.
Asked if it was damaging to his Government, Mr Ahern said he did not think so and highlighting prices was in line with Government policy, especially if it brought prices down.