5 Márta 2013, 18:00
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine this afternoon heard from representatives of RGDATA and Retail Ireland on the challenges in the relationship between supermarkets and primary and secondary food producers.
5 March 2013
Retail Ireland is the national representative body for the retail sector and includes the major supermarket groups among its membership, while RGDATA is representative group for Ireland’s independently family owned outlets.
Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: “Today’s meeting was the first in a series that the Committee is hosting with retailers and their representative organisations. Both groups outlined the challenges facing their sector as a result of the economic downturn. Committee Members pointed to the fact that grocery prices in Ireland are well above the European average. However we take on board the point that some costs of doing business are higher than elsewhere, including in Northern Ireland.
We heard RGDATA call for a statutory code of conduct for the grocery goods sector while Retail Ireland outlined developments taking place on a pan-European basis to implement a voluntary code agreed by manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Food labelling, which is a live issue and has caused considerable disquiet in recent months, was also discussed. Both Committee Members and retailers agreed that downward pressure on pricing should not in any way compromise the integrity of the product being sold and that labelling systems must be improved EU-wide..
“During this process, we are committed to ensuring a level playing pitch for all smaller players. Pressure on pricing can of course be driven by larger suppliers on smaller retailers as well as larger multiples on smaller suppliers. Committee Members raised the issue that many smaller players were reluctant to discuss the pressures they face in public for fear of losing contracts. The views expressed this afternoon, as well as at the meetings on the subject scheduled for the coming weeks, will flow into a Committee report on the matter.”
Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Membership
Deputies:
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Pat Deering, Fine Gael (Vice-Chair)
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael (Chair)
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour
Michael McNamara, Labour
Eamon Ó Cuiv, Fianna Fáil
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators:
Michael Comiskey, Fine Gael
Paschal Mooney, Fianna Fáil
Pat O’Neill, Fine Gael
Mary Ann O’Brien, Independent
Brian Ó Domhnaill, Fianna Fáil
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour