Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

Question 59: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the practice in many market sectors of exclusive distribution contracts for specific products or product lines; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that such contracts often divide the European Single Market into sections by country or group of countries; his views on whether such exclusive distribution contracts, which prevent, for example, an Irish company purchasing machinery from a German supplier at the rates prevailing on the German market and instead forces it to purchase from whomever has the exclusive distribution rights for Ireland, are against the rule and spirit of the Single Market; the steps he intends to take to protect small and medium business owners, who are most affected by this problem, from this behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18564/06]

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