Vol. 518 No. 6
372 Ms Clune asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received the study examining the economic effect of the implementation of the draft retail guidelines; if so, when he will publish this study; when he will issue retail planning guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12519/00]
386 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has received the report on the impact of the proposed retail planning guidelines on competition carried out by a company (details supplied); if he intends to publish the report and consult with interested parties prior to taking a final decision on the form of the draft guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12791/00]
387 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the evidence, if any, which exists to support the claims by the Competition Authority that the restrictions on retail planning impact negatively on consumers in terms of customer choice or the prices charged to consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12792/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 372, 386 and 387 together.
I expect very shortly to receive the completed report from the consultants on the likely impact of the implementation of the draft retail planning guidelines on competition within the retail sector, the supply of products to consumers at lower prices, consumer choice and the supplier base. The report has been commissioned jointly by my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The Competition Authority report to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business was prepared in response to the Oireachtas joint committee's report on superstores. Both of these reports along with the consultants' report which I will receive shortly and the comments received on the draft guidelines will be considered before I publish the guidelines in final form.
