Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he intends to carry out an impact assessment of the consequences of introducing a code of practice for the grocery industry before the code is announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18064/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to enact legislation to regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector. I intend to give effect to this commitment by including an enabling provision in the legislation currently being prepared by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, which will allow for the introduction of a statutory Code of Practice in the grocery goods sector.

The principles of better regulation require that proposals for legislative change to the regulatory framework are subject to a Regulatory Impact Analysis. It is intended that a detailed Regulatory Impact Analysis will be carried out prior to the introduction of a statutory Code of Practice in the Grocery Goods Sector. I would point out that a number of the elements of the impact analysis have already been carried out through the various public consultation exercises in 2009 and in 2011.

The Government considers it important that there is balance in the relationship between the various players in the grocery goods sector. The Government intends to introduce a Code of Practice that achieves such a balance and is committed to ensure that the legislative process allowing for the promulgation of a Code fully takes into account the interests of all stakeholders in the grocery goods sector, including the interests of the consumer.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the Agency Worker's Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18093/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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A Bill entitled the "Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill, 2011" designed to give effect to the EU Directive on Temporary Agency Work, completed passage in the Dáil in mid-February, 2012. The Bill is currently under consideration in the Seanad and is scheduled to complete all stages in that House by the end of April 2012. Thereafter, it will be returned to the Dáil for consideration of amendments put down in the Seanad and, assuming passage in both Houses, the Bill will be sent to the President for signature thereafter.

I can assure the Deputy that this is a priority Bill and I expect that it will be enacted in early May, 2012.