Sir, - I have always take the view from the time when we split with sterling that the day would come when we would pay for our lust for retail goods manufactured and sourced from our close neighbour, Britain. Post-war Ireland's retail sector was awash with British goods, and what wasn't available in the shops here we acquired from our fellow-travellers. Now, with high-street British outlets located in most of Ireland's major cities, goods available in Birmingham are available here. This is not the case with Britain's other close neighbour, France.
In the last few years the buying power of the punt has dropped considerably against sterling and it is not likely to improve as long as Britain stays out of the euro.
My views are that the Irish Government will be unable to change things, so it will be up to the customer and retailers to change. If customers refuse to pay the higher prices for British goods the retailer will be forced to source from other European countries tied in with the euro. Having travelled extensively in Europe I am convinced that there are equivalent goods. It is up to retailers to investigate the market. They have this duty to their customer. - Yours, etc.,
James G. Barry, Kennington Road, Templeogue, Dublin 6W.