Vol. 526 No. 4
138 Mr. Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the recent investigation by the Director of Consumer Affairs on the alleged price fixing among the large retail outlets; and if she has put a specific timeframe on the awaited report from the Competition Authority on the matter. [26255/00]
The Office of Director of Consumer Affairs in co-operation with the Consumer's Association of Ireland recently carried out the second in a series of four shopping basket price surveys of some 30 of the most popular grocery and related items.
The survey, which was conducted at supermarkets and large and medium sized retail outlets in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Dundalk, Galway, Athlone Sligo, and Carlow-Kilkenny, revealed very little price differential between Tesco, Dunnes Stores and Superquinn countrywide. Of the other stores surveyed, the price variation was not significant.
In light of the general level of price similarity across the shopping basket items surveyed and her concern at the apparent lack of competition, I understand the Director of Consumer Affairs has referred the survey results to the Competition Authority, and that the complaint is now being considered by it. The authority operates independently of me and therefore will itself decide whether any action is necessary under the Competition Acts.
Question No. 139 taken with Question No. 108.
