asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether any action has been taken under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act to limit or abolish the control which an organisation outside the State exercises over the distribution for sale of periodicals in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Restrictive Trade Practices.
I have brought the Deputy's previous representations to the notice of the Fair Trade Commission.
Has the Minister any indication as to whether the Fair Trade Commission are taking any action in the matter?
No.
Does the Minister not think it desirable that they should do so, or that it is an unsatisfactory state of affairs that certain periodicals are controlled by an organisation outside the country?
I think it is very undesirable that the Fair Trade Commission should be subject to ministerial influence in a decision relating to the importance of the matters before it.
I asked the Minister this 12 months ago and he informed me then that as soon as the Bill was passed action would be taken. Surely the matter is of sufficient importance for the Minister himself to take action.
When the Restrictive Trade Practices Bill was passed the Fair Trade Commission was set up, and I am not going to interfere with the decisions of that body as to the relevant importance of particular investigations.