asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce (a) if he will specify the trades and businesses, to which he referred in his speech to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce on 22nd October, 1957, whose members meet in private to enter into agreements and covenants to eliminate competition between themselves and in that way to deprive the public of the major benefit which free enterprise can confer; (b) if he will state whether any inquiry into such practices, in respect of the trades and businesses referred to by him, has been carried out by the Fair Trade Commission, and, if so, whether a report is available; (c) if no inquiry has been carried out by the Fair Trade Commission, if he will state why; and (d) if he will state the nature of the action the Government propose to take to deal with such restrictive arrangements and agreements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Restrictive Arrangements and Agreements.
On the occasion mentioned in the question I gave a general indication of the Governments attitude to restrictive practices in industry. If the Deputy desires enlightenment as to the type of arrangements I had in mind, I refer him to the reports of the Fair Trade Commission established under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1953. It is the intention of the Government to continue to avail of this machinery to bring to an end arrangements designed to eliminate competition which operate against the public interest.