Publican in Galway city may face a showdown with the Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Pat Rabbitte, after they ignored his recent directive to overturn an increase in the price of the pint.
A random survey of 20 pubs in the city has indicated that half of those which increased their price have ignored the Minister's directive to reduce it by 5p.
The chairman of the Galway branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, Mr Terry Tyson, said yesterday that the reasons for the increase remained.