Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On that issue, perhaps we should look at alcohol being promoted on the basis of price, in the first place. That would deal with much of that problem. If nobody can market it on the basis of selling, then the retailer just makes it available.

This debate is relevant not only in Ireland but across Europe, hence the discussion on the introduction of a code here. It has been ongoing. Perhaps there are some myths about it and maybe not. In its own way, the committee is trying to ensure the matter remains a matter for attention, that people address it and that we get to the nub of the issue. I come back to what I said earlier, namely, it is about fairness and equity in the food chain as opposed to anything else. The organisation is no different from many organisations globally. It is a commercial company that is out to make as much profit as it can. That is fair enough and we understand that. However, we have to make sure that everybody else who is involved in that chain has a reasonable return. That is the reason I used the word "fair".

Perhaps Mr. Dermot Breen would clarify one point. While the Competition Act creates a new quango, it merges two; therefore, there is not one extra quango, there is one less. I would not like it to go out from here that we are in the business of creating extra quangos when we are actually closing them.

On the basis that the EU code of practice has been agreed and signed up to, I do not know whether it is voluntary, but it appears to be underpinned by some form of legislative structure that has recourse for abuses, and sanctions that can be applied. We need to understand that and how it is structured before making a recommendation on our own proposed code. On the one hand it appears to be voluntary while on the other it seems that a number of sanctions apply.

Today's meeting has been useful. Were it not for the horsemeat scandal the witnesses would have appeared at an earlier date. I appreciate that issue had to be dealt with and that it was a particular problem for the company which it had to deal with. I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee today.

As there is no further business that concludes the proceedings.