Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Newspaper Distribution.

David Stanton

Question:

89 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Minister of State with responsibility for consumer rights, labour affairs and trade met with representatives of the National Federation of Newsagents earlier in 1998; if so, the content of this meeting; whether her attention or that of the Minister of State has been drawn to any investigation taking place by the Competition Authority following complaints made by the National Federation of Newsagents; if so, when this investigation started; when she expects it to be concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20545/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

In January of this year I met at their request representatives of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN). The NFRN had a problem regarding the terms on which certain newspapers were supplied to them by the distributors. They were advised that this matter appeared to be one for the Competition Authority and I understand that the NFRN did make a complaint to the Competition Authority in the matter.

The Competition (Amendment) Act, 1996, created the post of Director of Competition Enforcement. The Director of Competition Enforcement has a statutory duty to investigate alleged contraventions of the competition Acts, in particular sections 4 and 5 of the Competition Act, 1991 (as amended). The director has statutory independence in the carrying out of his duties, including that of recommending and giving advice to the Competition Authority in the matter of legal proceedings against those who may have contravened the Acts.

As the director and the authority are independent in the exercise of their functions under the Competition Acts, they do not report to my Department in such matters.