Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt about what we are trying to do. The origin of this is the unfair practices that were seen to be arising. The sorts of things that are deemed to have gone on are set out in the regulations. Suppliers were over a barrel and had to agree to unreasonable terms. We are seeking to deal with those practices in the grocery sector, where they were seen as a problem. As the Deputy said and as I accepted in my reply, it creates a bit of a difficulty for me that this issue did not arise during the long period of consultation in the Oireachtas or under the John Travers process. I will reflect on what has been said and see what can be done. I do not want to make undertakings until I get a chance to assess what would be involved and what its impact would be on the sector and the players in the sector. I would like to get an impression of the extent to which the practices about which the Oireachtas is concerned might be occurring in the horticultural sector in respect of plants as opposed to grocery products. This needs to be the subject of a little consideration. I do not want to make undertakings I cannot honour at a later stage. However, I will undertake to reflect on this and ask officials who have an understanding of the sector to assess it. At that stage, I will be in a position to form a judgment.