The organisation representing Dublin publicans has reacted angrily to suggestions by the Minister for Consumer Affairs that pub licensing could be liberalised if drink prices continue to rise.
Mr Frank Fell, chief executive of the Licensed Vintners' Association, accused the Minister, Mr Tom Kitt, of making "cheap political capital" out of increases imposed by publicans for what it says were justifiable commercial reasons.
A spokeswoman for Mr Kitt, however, reiterated his criticisms of "irresponsible" price increases. No response had been decided by the Minister, she said, adding that his options were to reintroduce last year's price freeze or to deregulate the industry.
Mr Fell insisted that publicans were behaving reasonably in putting up prices since the freeze ended because they had absorbed two major wage increases during the period of its imposition.
The combination of longer opening hours and the first phase of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness had added between £60 and £100 to the average wage in Dublin pubs, he said.
