Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I recently heard an interview with the new IFA president who commended the Tánaiste for the work she was doing in this area and acknowledged this was an issue which had to be continued to be pursued with the multiples. The whole question of a fair price being provided and Irish producers having fair access to the shelves of Irish supermarkets is a very important priority for the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Coughlan. The need for the avoidance of sharp practice and unethical behaviour is something which needs to be transparently available for everyone to see.

I agree there are a lot of market pressures on people who, anecdotally, can clearly say certain things in private but are not in a position to pursue them through a legal remedy for reasons which are obvious. That shows the imbalance of power between the producer and retailer in this area. It is a phenomenon with which primary producers across Europe have to contend. We are finding that happens, in particular with the advent of British multiples coming to Ireland. Their distribution arrangements, in terms of where they source their products, how they bring them in and where they bring them from, is a huge issue and one which about which we have to continue to be vigilant and supportive of everybody who is trying to ensure Irish producers get a fair deal in this situation. No one is looking for anything other than competitive, fair competition in all respects.

Regarding Deputy Ó Caoláin's comments, regulation is in place to facilitate competition and to provide a better and more diverse range of services for the public. With regard to that situation there is competition in place and under that directive the requirement to have a level playing field requires that VAT be payable on services provided. I do not believe that is the case if the local authority is in a monopoly position. It is a question of having to implement the VAT directives and that is one of the disciplines we must undertake in view of our access to a single European market. The Single Market provides us with a huge host of opportunities for exporting our products.

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