CIÉ joined the queue on Monday, with a demand for increases of up to 20 per cent in fares. Thus did it follow the VHI, whose premiums are rising by 18 per cent in September, and the ESB, whose prices look set to increase by about 15 per cent in the new year.
So the evil day has come. No sooner does the General Election finish and a raft of State companies rush to seek generous increases in their tariffs. The wise might call for restraint but elements within the State sector seem whole-hearted in their enthusiasm for price rises.
One might be forgiven for thinking that inflation is no longer an issue, but Irish prices are still rising faster than anywhere else in the EU.
Of the three companies in question, only CIÉ is loss-making.
CIÉ lost almost €8 million last year despite receiving more than €245 million in State subventions.
The Government wants to link an increase in transport tickets to reform at CIÉ. But don't expect the National Bus and Railworkers' Union to take this lying down.
Strong words there may be from the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, but nothing will be achieved without agreement with the unions. And, as everyone knows, the CIÉ unions can strike fast if it suits them.
Aer Lingus reported a poor year too this week, with the deficit reaching €140 million. Ironically, its solution is to lower certain prices. Competitiveness is king, eh?
