asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the serious situation prevailing in the supermarket business where manufacturers are being asked to pay large sums of money in order to have their products displayed and sold in various supermarket multiples; the action he proposes to take on this matter; if he will give details of the situation; and if he will make a statement on this very serious situation.
Written Answers. - Supermarket Business Restrictive Practices.
23.
Limerick East): In July of this year I asked the Restrictive Practices Commission to carry out a special review of the operation of the Restrictive Practice (Groceries) Order, 1981, in the light of developments since the order was made and with particular reference to the issue of below cost selling and the general question of relationships between manufacturers-suppliers and retailers-wholesalers in the retail grocery trade. I expect the commission to submit their report to me by the end of November.
The matter referred to by the Deputy will be covered in the commission's review and under the circumstances I feel it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the commission's report by making a statement.