asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the date on which the order was made which required that the weights of certain packaged foodstuff be recorded on the packet; the date on which the order was to take effect; whether it is proposed to amend either the order or the operative date; and the nature of any representations received in connection with this matter either before the making of the order or since.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Packaged Foodstuffs.
8.
Mr. R. Burke
I presume the Deputy refers to the Merchandise Marks (Prepacked Goods) (Marking and Quantities) Order, 1973, which was made on 29th January, 1973, and was due to come into effect on 1st October, 1973, I proposed to amend the order so as to defer its operative date to 1st February, 1974, and to relieve a few items of the obligation to be packed in prescribed sizes. Over 100 representations were received before and after the making of the order, and while they are too varied to summarise they may be said to fall into two categories: a general plea for the postponement of the making of the order until such time as the shape of future EEC directives on the subject becomes evident, and particular proposals related to technical or practical difficulties arising in the case of particular products.
The Minister has stated that the operative date has been postponed to 1st February, 1974. Is that the position?
Mr. R. Burke
That is the position. yes.
At the same time, as an excuse for the postponement we are told that they are waiting for agreement——
I would be grateful to the Deputy if he would put a specific supplementary question on the matter.
I am asking a specific supplementary question but apparently I am not being allowed to. I am asking the Minister why he decided to defer the making of this order, and why he deliberately postponed it in view of the fact that there is no such public demand for this order. As Minister for Industry and Commerce I was criticised for not making it sooner. Now we have the new Minister postponing it at the request of specific vested interests whom it does not suit, and the Minister is giving way to those people.
The Deputy is making a long statement.
What will happen between the time of its operation as proposed by the former Government and the three months postponement which the Minister has allowed?
I cannot allow long supplementaries of this nature to be made at Question Time.
It is a long question and we had a long reply.
Mr. R. Burke
The Deputy will appreciate that, following his making of the order, further representations were received. Therefore, it is natural that these representations would be entertained.
From whom?
Mr. R. Burke
From the interests involved.
The consumer interests? Those are the people I represent.
Mr. R. Burke
Is the Deputy suggesting that the EEC Directive was the only consideration? If he is, then he is mistaken. There were others.
That was the information the Minister gave publicly at the time. Obviously, I am not going to get a reply.