asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has as yet received the report of the Fair Trade Commission inquiry into the supply and distribution of groceries with particular reference to the introduction of legislation relating to trading stamps.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trading Stamps.
49.
I have not yet received the commission's report.
How long does the Minister expect to wait for this report? In reply to a parliamentary question I put down in October, 1970, the Minister said he was expecting it soon. How much longer will it be?
We have no Government any longer.
I could not have expected a report from the Fair Trade Commission about the supply and distribution of groceries, and the question of trading stamps, because the commission had not met at that stage. Perhaps the Deputy was asking me at that time when the commission would meet.
No.
The inquiry into the supply and distribution of groceries commenced on 5th January, 1971, so I could not have given an indication that I was expecting a report 12 months ago.
Does the Minister not remember my asking what the Government's attitude was to trading stamps? He replied that the Fair Trade Commission were at present examining this and he would not anticipate their report by giving his opinion at that stage. That was in October, 1970. The Government's attitude towards trading stamps has, in fact, become very clear, because Deputy Lemass, who is Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance, opened a centre for one of these trading stamp companies. Are the trading stamp companies entitled to think they have the Government's blessing to go ahead and trade here?
I do not accept that anything of that nature is an indication of the Government's attitude. I have been careful when replying to parliamentary questions on this matter over the past three or four months to refrain from expressing my own personal views pending receipt of a report from the Fair Trade Commission. I do not intend to indicate my own personal views until such time as I get the report.
Would the Minister not agree that Deputy Lemass was indiscreet in opening the centre when the matter was being investigated by the Fair Trade Commission?
That is a separate question.