Vol. 576 No. 5
100 Mr. Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress being made on the review of the Groceries Order 1987, particularly with regard to the possible ban on the practice of below cost reselling; and if the recent decrease in inflation on the back of a strengthening euro and the introduction here of a number of discount retailing stores makes the need for such a review less necessary. [29958/03]
123 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she intends to publish the results of her review of the Groceries Order 1987, which forbids below-cost selling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29919/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 123 together.
While the decrease in consumer price inflation and the entry into our market by discount retail stores are positive developments from a consumer and competition point of view, there is also clear economic evidence to suggest that food prices in Ireland are much higher than those in other European countries. My review of the Groceries Order 1987 is proceeding satisfactorily and I expect to bring it to conclusion in the near future.
