Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
190 Mr. Morgan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on the consultations she has had around proposed changes to the retail planning guidelines and the end of the ban on below cost selling; if she intends to make a decision or recommendation on this matter in the near future; and the implications she believes such changes would have for small business people and community-based enterprises. [11359/04]
View answerResponsibility for the retail planning guidelines lies with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, who is currently reviewing the operation of the guidelines in so far as they relate to non-food outlets.
I am continuing to review the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 and the ban on below cost selling contained therein. To date, I have received a large amount of correspondence in the matter from interested parties. I have also met a number of these parties. As Minister with responsibility for consumer welfare, I must, in considering the views of those who advocate retaining the order in its current form, balance those views with the need to ensure that the interests of consumers are best served. I will take the views of all interested parties into consideration before making any decision in relation to the order.
