25 Márta 2013, 13:03
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine tomorrow continues its discussions on the relationship between supermarkets and primary and secondary food producers when it meets with representatives from Tesco and the Musgrave Group.
The debate will centre on the following topics:
(i) The proposed Code of Conduct for the grocery goods sector;
(ii) Pricing and impact on primary and secondary suppliers;
(iii) Support for local produce; and
(iv) Labelling
Chairman of the Committee Andrew Doyle TD says: “We look forward to hearing from representatives of two key players in the Irish grocery sector. Tomorrow's meeting is the second in a series that the Committee is hosting with retailers and their representative organisations. Conscious of the need to safeguard a vibrant retail sector, our Committee is also aware of the on-going pressure on food pricing, with primary producers in particular increasingly squeezed. Food labelling, which is a live issue and has caused considerable disquiet in recent months, is also likely to feature in tomorrow’s discussions.”
“Tomorrow's discussions are expected to touch on the perceived lack of a level playing pitch for smaller players in the supply chain. Committee Members have expressed concern that excessive pressure on pricing can be driven both by larger suppliers on smaller retailers on the one hand as well as by larger multiples on smaller suppliers on the other. The views expressed tomorrow afternoon will flow into a report that the Committee intends to publish on the matter.”
The meeting commences at 3 pm in Committee Room 3, LH 2000 tomorrow 26 March 2013.
Committee proceedings can be followed live here: http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/
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
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 F áil
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour