Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, it is SCARP. We were calling it "SCAMP" for a while. The Minister of State is right. In fairness, he should take the credit when he is getting it. We are well able to criticise so it is nice to pass on those congratulations.

This Bill is very important because consumers are being ripped off, left, right and centre, especially online. Then there are massive reviews on different media online and they are all one-sided. There is no control or basis. They might be wildly inaccurate. Big companies are powerful. Like Deputy Nolan, I am very concerned about farmers, and it was a very worrying issue for Mr. Honohan as well. They are in no-man's-land. Why are they not included in this as consumers? They are falling in between. They are important and their work for this country is enormous. They are under savage attack from all sides so they need protections.

I introduced a Bill on behalf of my colleagues to try to bring about some protection in respect of the family home and the farm, to separate the home from the land holding, and to protect spouses and siblings who may accidentally be on leases or whatever else. They need protection in this area as well, because they are consumers as well. There is an attack on them. A few years ago an Teachta Michael Healy-Rae anseo agus mé féin went to Dunnes Stores off Grafton Street with members of the Irish Farmers' Association, IFA, to support the IFA. The Minister of State remembers it well. They filled up four trolleys with a water level of goods. I think it only came to approximately €20, and we were shocked. I know the value of a bag of spuds, a turnip, a carrot or any of the produce that comes from the land. It does not fall off the trees and grow. Seed has to be bought, the ground has to be prepared, fertilizer is required and one has to look after the crops, spray them and make sure they are good products. Consumers want that for their protection. However, the below-cost selling is beyond all. I know of several farmers who have the left the market this year of supplying fruit and vegetables, mainly vegetables and potatoes. They are leaving because it is not viable. What we will be left with is multiples that will be able to charge what they wish because there will be no competition.

Then there are the small shops. By all means, consumers must be protected. The vast majority of them are, and the vast majority of business people are good, decent business people. They want to work and they want to provide a service, but the rogue element must be driven out. However, to catch that rogue element, often with legislation, the impact and pressure it puts on small businesses is unwieldy. One would have to be a legal mind to traverse the amount of paperwork and to understand it. The small business people do not have the time or the energy for it and they cannot afford to hire the expertise, so they are really struggling. This Bill is welcome in many ways, but there are many aspects of it that are leaving people behind.

Another area in agriculture that is under attack is the farm suppliers. They are very reputable. Previously, they were selling medicines, but that has all been clamped on and has been taken back in under the agricultural veterinary products. They are being squeezed every which way. Then there are the single- or two-person sales teams on the roads. They have small businesses and are paying their taxes, rates and everything. There are unintended consequences sometimes, but some of these are intended consequences because there are powerful lobbies that want these people out of the way.

This is Second Stage, but we hope we will be able to table amendments for Committee Stage. We hope the Bill will be practical, user-friendly and consumer-friendly. Also, a correct balance must be struck between the consumer and he or she who delivers the services. It saddens me to see the amount of online shopping. I put my hand up that my páistí do it, but it is a pity. We see the vans on the road and, indeed, they would blow one off the road. The shopkeepers are being denied their bit of business. There is a squeezing taking place all the time. The fabric of not only rural Ireland and but also urban Ireland in the big rural towns is being killed by the big outlets and online shopping. We must try to get a balance even though it is very hard. The lockdown hastened the demise of small businesses because they were closed. They were supposed to be closed, but the big multiples were open and did all the business. The profits they made were enormous.

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