asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that a store in Dublin (name supplied) instructed its managers that customers may purchase sugar on condition that they make other purchases; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Sugar Sales.
9.
I have received a number of complaints in recent months that such action was being taken by some sugar retailers for the purpose of ensuring a fair distribution of existing stocks. Traders are free to adopt this practice, and indeed in the short term and in conditions of scarcity it may well be preferable to the alternative of a free-for-all which would facilitate hoarding and speculating.
Can companies invite people to buy products and then tell them they will sell them those products only subject to the condition that they will purchase something else? Is that legal?
I understand that is so.
Is it not a form of blackmail?
If you like, it is an informal form of rationing. The position is that if such a requirement did not exist in a shop like that people could be going in and buying more and more sugar than they needed, thus creating a scarcity for those people who were coming in the normal way to buy sugar as part of their total grocery purchases.
How many complaints did the Parliamentary Secretary receive?
I have not got the number of complaints. I understand that these complaints were coming in up to about 10th January and since then there have not been complaints of this nature, chiefly because the supply situation in relation to sugar has improved since then.
The price has gone up.
Is there a scarcity now?
No.
It has nothing to do with a shortage?
The point I am making is that these practices were adopted by shopkeepers in conditions of shortage. Conditions of shortage do not apply at the moment and, therefore, the practice is not being complained of.
On a point of order, could I inquire if the functions of the Department of Industry and Commerce have been divided between the Minister and his newly acquired Parliamentary Secretary? We had the Minister here for six or seven questions and then he departed.
That is not a matter for the Chair or a point of order.
Perhaps the Parliamentary Secretary would tell us what part of the Department he is in charge of, and what the Minister is in charge of, and if either of them can make a decision. Could they decide on that?
I could tell the Deputy but I do not know whether the Chair would wish me to do so.
Is there any chance that the Parliamentary Secretary might be put in charge of deciding on the question of oil and gas licences?
Questions must be allowed to continue without this type of interruption.