Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

The broad spectrum of society is represented at partnership talks. Regarding the NCA, that comes through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment which is directly represented at the table in the context of partnership discussions. IBEC, trade unions and the voluntary and community sector advocate lower prices for consumers in their various guises in the social and community pillar. Everybody at the table is interested in making sure that we have a competitive retail market that ensures the consumer is protected. That is something we always monitor. Our Department is the lead one in making sure that consumers' rights are protected. The Tánaiste has already indicated the measures she has taken towards contacting retailers. It is a matter of sitting down and discussing with RGDATA and others the fact that price differentials between the Republic and Northern Ireland, for example, have not been passed on as we would have liked. Politicians take an active role in this, not only in the views they express in this Chamber, but also when they sit down to partnership talks.

It is important to acknowledge after last week's Lisbon treaty referendum that the European Commissioner for Competition, Ms Neelie Kroes, is initiating an investigation about the sterling price differential not being passed on here. That was referred to earlier today. Many people are very conscious and concerned about making sure that the consumer is protected and most importantly our Department takes a lead role in this at partnership talks.

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