Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

I will be brief. Every other EU country has taken the opposite position to the one we are taking. They are introducing, or have introduced, measures similar to the groceries order. We have seen the retail wastelands that exist in the United Kingdom.

This legislation is bad for producers, farmers and suppliers. A survey conducted by Fine Gael last summer highlighted the fact that there is a mark-up of up to 214% on basic food products from the farm gate to the supermarket shelf. The middleman does not benefit from this. Those who benefit are the major retailers. They make huge profits and put the squeeze on smaller retailers, suppliers and primary producers such as farmers. I urge the Minister of State to reconsider his position on this.

See this speech in context