Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

A representative will be appointed. The Minister has set up an interim board so that all the recommendations in the report will be implemented. This is the first stage and the Minister is moving towards consumer representation. What does the Senator want? Does he expect the Minister to snap his fingers and establish the agency overnight? The Senator knows better than me that is not the way to do business.

The Government has got its act together and is putting the agency in place. A redress mechanism will be provided for consumers. We were all overcharged in the past but we did not know how to complain because no mechanism was in place. However, procedures will be implemented, including access to the Small Claims Court. In the past nobody had confidence in lawyers and, therefore, they contacted the media to seek redress.

The consumer must be educated that he or she has choice. For example, Dublin has numerous restaurants, which are mushrooming in number. People need to be educated to question the price of meals and so on. I was surprised that the report found the price of clothes was low in Ireland. I do not agree because during sales 50% is knocked off the cost of a garment, which highlights that the mark-up is colossal. The report recommends that a regulator be appointed to deal with this issue.

The jury is out on whether the groceries order should be revisited. I am glad Senator Quinn has left the Chamber because I hate supermarkets. Small is beautiful. I would rather see small local shops in convenient locations. Maybe we should link up with development plans to ensure the infrastructure is in place to allow the local shops flourish. I do not want big supermarkets. I do not want the heavy guys to come in and destroy the fabric of society and rural communities.