Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Tánaiste, as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, spoke to the large supermarket chains at the time those issues were being raised. Indeed, she personally raised them with the National Consumer Agency. There was a reduction of prices on a range of products across the board as a result because the retail sector had to take on board the fact that the differentials were not explicable simply by exchange rate movements or distribution costs.

In recent months, we have also seen a big improvement in relation to the Northern Ireland situation with consumers voting with their feet by staying in the Republic and doing their shopping here to a greater extent than was the case 12 months ago. This is a practical example of how competitiveness has improved and pricing has come more in line with what was available in Northern Ireland and which resulted in many people going up there to shop. The number doing so has certainly declined in recent months. There is, however, no room for complacency.

The National Consumer Agency and Competition Authority are due to be merged as a means of enhancing the consumer protection area so that people will get the best possible prices in respect of those goods and services they need on an ongoing basis. We will continue to work on that and the Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher, will proceed with existing work and examine the issue raised today.

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