A lot has been said about the Irish banking industry in recent weeks and it is fair at this juncture to ask whether or not we get the banks that we deserve? At the heart of this proposition is the suggestion that, through a combination of indifference and ignorance, consumers facilitated the evolution of a banking industry that routinely abuses its customers.
It is certainly possible that some of the practices that have been exposed in recent weeks would have come to light earlier if we had a proactive and vocal consumer lobby. Equally the banks themselves might have paid more attention to such issues if they feared being held to account in the court of public opinion by consumer activists.
What is beyond doubt is that consumer apathy is not just confined to the banking industry. Its consequences are to be seen everywhere, most notably in the high prices and poor service standards that are now the norm in so many parts of the economy.
The emergence of what has been termed "rip-off Ireland" was behind the establishment last March of the Consumer Strategy Group by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney. Fostering a more effective consumer culture is one of the group's objectives, and to that end the body is now seeking submissions from consumers, companies, organisations and interest groups.
The issues the group is inviting comment on are whether consumers have adequate and effective means of redress and whether they have real influence and power.
The body is due to report back by the end of the year with recommendations for the development of a national consumer policy. The model for what happens next is the Motor Insurance Advisory Board, which carried out a similar exercise in the area of motor insurance.
The fruits of the action plan which flowed from its report are now being seen. The Personal Injuries Assessment Board finally went live last week while the penalty points system owes something to the MIAB for its coming into being.
The first step along this road is the consultative process now under way. No doubt all the usual suspects and vested interests will be making their views known. But if the strategy group is to fulfil its mandate then it must also garner the views of the individual consumer. Hopefully, enough of us will overcome our apathy to make submissions. If we don't - and that is a real risk - then we will have a little less right to complain about the banks.