Vol. 524 No. 1
24 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress she has made in her consultations with interested parties in regard to the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987; when she will make a final decision on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21562/00]
34 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the concerns among retailers and suppliers that the current uncertainty over the future of the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987, which has been under review in one form or another for four years, is inhibiting future investment decisions; when she will make a decision on the future of the order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21681/00]
70 Mr. Bradford asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has concluded her review of the operation and impact of the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987; the plans she has to amend the order in any way [21547/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 34 and 70 together.
The Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987, was the subject of one of 40 recommendations on a variety of aspects of competition and mergers legislation, the enforcement of competition law, including the groceries order, and the administration of mergers law in the final report of the Competition and Mergers Review Group which I published in May last.
On the matter of the groceries order, the majority of the review group recommended that the groceries order be repealed; any legislation or regulation introduced in relation to the grocery trade should not include a ban on below cost selling; and some form of regulation be introduced in relation to the grocery trade which would in particular require suppliers to publish the terms on which they are prepared to trade with retailers, would require retailers to honour the credit terms on which suppliers are prepared to trade with them, would ban "hello money", and would require retailers not to discriminate between classes of customers in respect of the products which they sell. I am considering this recommendation and I will make a decision on it as soon as possible.
Both myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, have had a wide range of representations from people who have an interest and strongly held views on this matter. We have met any interests which have requested a meeting.
In so far as future investment decisions are concerned, there has been expansion and upgrading of facilities by those traditionally operating in the market and there has also been investment from abroad providing the Irish consumer with greater choice. As competition in the market is about value for money and choice I welcome these developments.
