Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 June 2014
105. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has given consideration to appointing an independent ombudsman to oversee the implementation and regulation of the proposed grocery goods undertakings in the new retail legislation. [25158/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe establishment of a new standalone State body to oversee the implementation of the proposed regulations of certain practices in the grocery goods sector would not, in the current economic climate, be feasible for reasons of scarce financial resources, duplication with enforcement of existing legislation in the Competition (Amendment) Act 2006 on activities that prevent, restrict or distort competition in the grocery goods sector and the need to ensure that there is no unnecessary proliferation of public service bodies. Hence, as I have previously outlined in relation to this matter in the Oireachtas, the new amalgamated Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will be the independent body assigned responsibility for overseeing and enforcing these regulations which I will make under this Act. This new body will be given the powers to enforce the regulations and will build on the considerable enforcement and investigative powers that the two current bodies have built-up over the last few years rather than start afresh with a new body. Contravention of the regulations will be an offence as will failure to comply with any contravention notice issued by the new Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. That body will also have the power to publically list all undertakings that have contravened either the regulations or failed to comply with the contravention notices: this will inform consumers on which undertakings are not abiding by the regulations. It will also be able to act on its own initiative or on the basis of information supplied to it. However, it must be pointed out that in enforcing any regulations, the basic tenets of fair procedure and natural and constitutional justice must be upheld. Of course, if there are no suspect practices being carried out, there will be no issue for any contracting party to such relationships.
