Vol. 506 No. 2
103 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans, if any, she has to put into place monitoring procedures in order to ascertain if large supermarket groups are delisting brand names and products thereby restricting consumer choice; the information or data she has in this regard; the action, if any, she will take in this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15040/99]
The European single market gives the right to any supermarket group in Ireland to source products freely within the European Union. At the same time, a comprehensive legal framework exists through which anti-competitive behaviour and abuse of dominant position can be challenged. Provided that the relevant single market and competition rules are adhered to, it is open to any supermarket to decide which products it wishes to stock.
The range of products sold in any supermarket will largely be determined by consumer demand and market forces. This is an area in which control or regulation is not appropriate and I do not intend to introduce procedures to monitor the situation.
