I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 50 and 74 together.
The Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987, covers all grocery goods with the exception of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, fresh and frozen meat, and fish as well as intoxicating liquor and other household goods ordinarily sold in grocery shops. The order prohibits practices such as below cost selling and advertising, boycotting, and hello money and provides for controls on terms and conditions of supply.
The order is enforced by the Director of Consumer Affairs who has to date investigated in depth more than ten cases and has taken three alleged breaches of the order to court since the order's commencement. A recent allegation concerning a supermarket group is currently being investigated by the director.
As I said in this House on 25 February last, I am deeply concerned that there is any suggestion of a breach of the groceries order which would be a most serious development that would fundamentally be anti-consumer.
Any allegations that commercial arrangements exist which may be in contravention of the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987, should be drawn immediately to the attention of the Director of Consumer Affairs who is responsible for enforcing the order and whose job includes advising business in this regard.
Precise details of any arrangement including suppliers paying extra for bonus points schemes where products are specially promoted would need to be examined in detail by the director to determine the position.
In regard to the issue of overseas sourcing, the provisions of the order refer specifically to the retailer in the State.