asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if it is his intention to have reports of the investigations of prices committees into price increases published and to make these publicly available; and, if not, to whom they will be made available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reports of Prices Investigations.
18.
The findings of Prices Advisory Committees have already been published in all cases, in the press and on the radio.
In the case of the investigation into the prices of canned and processed foods a summary of the report of the Committee, excluding confidential matter, has been issued to all the bodies nominating representatives to the Prices Advisory Committee panel and to individual members of the Committee. I intend to issue a similar summary in the case of each of the other investigations undertaken by Prices Advisory Committees.
Did the Minister say whether or not there will be a public report, remembering that the report will be sent to what the Minister described as interested bodies?
I understand it is proposed to prepare summaries of the three other reports in approved form for limited circulation as in the case of canned and processed foods.
The Minister said these reports will be sent to bodies he described as interested parties. The report is not for general publication, is it, in the newspapers and so on?
In the case of some of these inquiries a press, radio and television announcement was issued setting out the findings.
The Minister misunderstands me. The press and radio were notified as to the result of the investigation, but a report on the investigation is a different matter. The Minister said this would be given to interested bodies. Why not have them published in the press, on the radio and on television.
It is intended to confine publication to the bodies I have mentioned.
Is there any particular reason for that?
It may be because of the amount of confidential information involved.
How confidential is it if it is sent to five, six or seven separate bodies?
The Deputy had better, I think, ask a further question on that.