Analysis: These simple, quick initiatives could deliver financial relief, promote fairer markets and strengthen consumer protections
This article is now available above as a Brainstorm podcast. You can subscribe to the Brainstorm podcast through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
The past few years have been particularly difficult for consumers, marked by record increases in the cost of living and little indication of relief in the near future. As we approach the Dáil summer recess, now is an opportune moment for the Government to act on several straightforward policy measures.
These low-hanging fruit initiatives could deliver tangible financial relief, promote fairer markets, and strengthen consumer protections. While some of these areas are already under review, many have stalled amid shifting priorities and limited political momentum.
A long-overdue reform is the passage of the Consumer Protection (Loyalty Penalty and Customer Complaints) Bill, first introduced in 2021. The bill would ban the widespread practice of penalising loyal customers, particularly in sectors like telecommunications, insurance and utilities, by offering better deals only to new customers. This forces consumers to switch providers annually just to avoid paying more, a burden that disproportionately affects older people and those less comfortable navigating comparison tools.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, why are car insurance premiums rising so much?
In addition, the bill aims to hold service providers accountable for poor customer service. Strengthening enforcement powers would provide a credible deterrent and incentivise genuine improvements across the sector. The Government should prioritise its enactment.
Opaque pricing practices have become increasingly common, and frustrating, for consumers. A key example is event ticketing, where the advertised price often excludes booking fees, which are only revealed at checkout. Additionally, it's unclear how many tickets are actually available at the advertised price, or how many are allocated to presales or corporate hospitality. This lack of transparency erodes trust.
Hotels also frequently inflate prices following major event announcements. Some go so far as to cancel existing bookings and re-list rooms at higher rates, a practice many rightly view as exploitative. Anecdotally, it can be cheaper to attend a concert abroad, including paying for flights and accommodation, than to stay a single night in Dublin. This should raise red flags about the state of competition and fairness in the domestic hospitality sector.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline, listeners complain about Dublin hotel prices for the Taylor Swift concerts
The Government should consider mandating that the advertised price of any product or service include all unavoidable fees, starting with booking charges for events. Furthermore, hotels should be required to honour confirmed bookings, regardless of changes in demand.
Mid-contract price increases, another common gripe, could be addressed through transparency requirements similar to those in the UK, where any increase must be clearly indicated as a monetary amount. Customers should also be shown a contract's total expected cost up front, akin to how energy providers display estimated annual bills.
Government policy has leaned heavily on private comparison tools and platforms, such as Bonkers.ie or Switcher.ie, to help consumers navigate markets like broadband, insurance and loans. While useful, these platforms are commercial enterprises with inherent conflicts of interest.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, health insurance expert Dermot Goode on health Insurance cost increases
At the same time, many consumers lack financial literacy and may not fully understand the long-term implications of offers like low monthly personal contract plans for car payments or buy-now-pay-later schemes. These products are often marketed in a way that emphasises benefits and obscures risks.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) currently lacks the resources and scope to provide the kind of public services needed to address these challenges. With expanded fundin
This article is now available above as a Brainstorm podcast. You can subscribe to the Brainstorm podcast through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
The past few years have been particularly difficult for consumers, marked by record increases in the cost of living and little indication of relief in the near future. As we approach the Dáil summer recess, now is an opportune moment for the Government to act on several straightforward policy measures.
These low-hanging fruit initiatives could deliver tangible financial relief, promote fairer markets, and strengthen consumer protections. While some of these areas are already under review, many have stalled amid shifting priorities and limited political momentum.
A long-overdue reform is the passage of the Consumer Protection (Loyalty Penalty and Customer Complaints) Bill, first introduced in 2021. The bill would ban the widespread practice of penalising loyal customers, particularly in sectors like telecommunications, insurance and utilities, by offering better deals only to new customers. This forces consumers to switch providers annually just to avoid paying more, a burden that disproportionately affects older people and those less comfortable navigating comparison tools.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, why are car insurance premiums rising so much?
In addition, the bill aims to hold service providers accountable for poor customer service. Strengthening enforcement powers would provide a credible deterrent and incentivise genuine improvements across the sector. The Government should prioritise its enactment.
Opaque pricing practices have become increasingly common, and frustrating, for consumers. A key example is event ticketing, where the advertised price often excludes booking fees, which are only revealed at checkout. Additionally, it's unclear how many tickets are actually available at the advertised price, or how many are allocated to presales or corporate hospitality. This lack of transparency erodes trust.
Hotels also frequently inflate prices following major event announcements. Some go so far as to cancel existing bookings and re-list rooms at higher rates, a practice many rightly view as exploitative. Anecdotally, it can be cheaper to attend a concert abroad, including paying for flights and accommodation, than to stay a single night in Dublin. This should raise red flags about the state of competition and fairness in the domestic hospitality sector.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
From RTÉ Radio 1's Liveline, listeners complain about Dublin hotel prices for the Taylor Swift concerts
The Government should consider mandating that the advertised price of any product or service include all unavoidable fees, starting with booking charges for events. Furthermore, hotels should be required to honour confirmed bookings, regardless of changes in demand.
Mid-contract price increases, another common gripe, could be addressed through transparency requirements similar to those in the UK, where any increase must be clearly indicated as a monetary amount. Customers should also be shown a contract's total expected cost up front, akin to how energy providers display estimated annual bills.
Government policy has leaned heavily on private comparison tools and platforms, such as Bonkers.ie or Switcher.ie, to help consumers navigate markets like broadband, insurance and loans. While useful, these platforms are commercial enterprises with inherent conflicts of interest.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, health insurance expert Dermot Goode on health Insurance cost increases
At the same time, many consumers lack financial literacy and may not fully understand the long-term implications of offers like low monthly personal contract plans for car payments or buy-now-pay-later schemes. These products are often marketed in a way that emphasises benefits and obscures risks.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) currently lacks the resources and scope to provide the kind of public services needed to address these challenges. With expanded fundin