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

The purpose the provisions of the Bill relating to the grocery goods sector and the regulations I will make in due course on foot of those enabling provisions was to regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector.

On the issue of payment, the Bill clearly sets out at section 63B(2)(p) that the regulations may specify the manner and timeframe in which payment for grocery goods supplied to relevant grocery goods undertakings are to be made. I believe that the issue of the timeframe for payment should be considered in the context of any regulations rather than in primary legislation, to allow for more flexibility, if required, in any statutory instrument. Payments are also covered by prompt payment legislation, and this must be factored into any regulations. Setting out a period of 30 days in primary legislation may be too rigid compared to making regulations and thus, as the text of any regulation is not finalised or agreed, I believe that these amendments are neither required nor appropriate in this Bill.