Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 1 October 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Competition Law and Trade Associations: Discussion

Photo of Michael FitzmauriceMichael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have listened to Mr. O'Leary. I worry about the family farm in Ireland, given some of the comments he has made, for the simple reason it seems to be a race to the bottom and no one minds what happens. A group of farming organisations may decide to come together with the members they represent. It was pointed out earlier by Ms Goggin that things are generally roughly the same price and, for example, if apples are 2 cent more, someone will not buy them. If the meat is the same price that the factory is quoting and the representatives people have signed up to go in to negotiate cannot do it. This is what has come out. I cannot fathom it. The organisations have an authority from the members of the association to represent them, in the same way we have, as public representatives.

At the same time, Mr. O'Leary talks about competition and we know the name of his organisation is the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. We now have a situation in this country where there are three or four large operators in the meat industry because they have been allowed to merge. I am a contractor for my living. I will put it simply. When I go baling, I cannot charge the price I want because if there are ten balers around my area, I have to make sure that I am competitive. However, if there are two or three and we are all very busy, who is to stop me from charging more?

The CCPC has, over a number of years, let the number of operators in the meat industry come down through mergers without keeping control of it. Over the last ten to 15 years, has the CCPC ever looked at this, because I can tell Mr. O'Leary that the dog in the street knows this? There is a big fear among communities and it is on everyone's lips what is going on in the meat industry in Ireland. As a competition authority, did the CCPC ever bother to seize computers and take all that type of gear? Mr. O'Leary can correct me if I am wrong, but my understanding is that it was a European outfit that came into Ireland to check the insurance. Is that correct?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.