asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the total number of allegations of unfair trade practices investigated by the Fair Trade Commission, and the total number of cases in which the Commission found the allegations to be well-founded.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unfair Trade Practices.
31.
Mr. Ryan
The information sought by the Deputy is not available in the form specified in the question.
The Commission have conducted formal Public Enquiries in relation to the supply and distribution of six groups of commodities and have made Fair Trading Rules in relation to twenty-one other groups. The Commission's action in these cases was taken as a result of allegations of unfair trading practices or because the Commission felt that investigation was desirable. The number of commodities dealt with at the Enquiries or in the Rules is well over one hundred and accounts for a high proportion of the total volume of transportable goods.
The Reports of the Enquiries and the Rules have been published and, in addition, the Reports of the Enquiries have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Commission also investigate complaints of restrictive trade practices without holding Public Enquiries or making Fair Trading Rules. It is not possible to give the total number of such cases but the Annual Reports of the Commission, which are published and laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas, give particulars of the more noteworthy allegations of unfair trading investigated by them and the outcome of these investigations.