asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will introduce unit pricing at the earliest possible opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unit Pricing.
5.
The Prices Acts enable ministerial orders to be made to require the unit price to be shown in respect of commodities specified in the orders. Since mid-1972, orders have been made on three occasions requiring the unit price to be shown in respect of a wide range of foodstuffs. The order at present in operation is the Retail Prices (Food) Display Order, 1977 (S.I. No. 127 of 1977) dated 9 May 1977. I consider that this order meets our present needs adequately and I do not at this stage contemplate amending it.
Is the Minister aware there are difficulties, despite the 1977 order, in relation to certain commodities? Average shoppers would need a calculator to figure out what they are paying per lb. or per kilo. The Minister is aware of at least one commodity which is being marketed and is causing great confusion and frustration to shoppers. Will she extend the order to include that commodity and others which are also causing problems?
At the moment it is not my intention to do so, but it is being kept under constant review. Is Deputy Keating going for Europe too?