Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak to this important motion. Excessive prices and reduced spending power for consumers are major problems which no one has highlighted more clearly than my colleague, Deputy Hogan. While Mr. Eddie Hobbs received some of the credit for his recent television programmes, it was Deputy Hogan who launched the ripoff.ie website two years ago.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, who recently decided to scrap the groceries order — we are still not sure what precisely he proposes to do — will no doubt be given credit for some changes in the pricing structure in the months and years ahead. If, however, the Minister fails to introduce proper structures and funding for the Competition Authority, the removal of the groceries order could have serious long-term implications for industry and primary producers, with only a few multinational companies enjoying its benefits.

See this speech in context