Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join with other Senators in welcoming the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, to the House, as I welcome the opportunity to make a number of points concerning this motion, the consumer strategy group and its recommendations. I welcome the group's strategies but, in supporting the motion, I will point out that some of the group's findings are somewhat naïve and are not founded on the business reality on one hand and consumer reality on the other. It is one-sided in certain respects. This notwithstanding, the group's recommendations are good. I welcome the establishment of an interdepartmental group to examine the recommendations and determine how they can best be implemented.

Historically, Ireland is a nation of people who settle too easily for mediocrity, not just in terms of quality of products but particularly in terms of price. We do not question prices. People buy petrol without knowing the cost. Unlike me, some of my friends are good in this respect and know where the cheapest petrol or diesel can be found. It is only when I run out of petrol or am about to, that I stop to get more without looking at the price. A consumer agency such as that proposed is welcome. Education is the key to this issue. If we can be made aware of how high and low prices are, we can become more educated as a people and will not just settle for whatever price is placed in front of us.

The groceries order has served us well since 1987 but it is timely to review it. I commend the Minister of State for the way in which he is doing so. The process is open, transparent, invites submissions and consults with all interested parties so they can give their views on the matter to allow a decision to be reached. I do not know whether it will be in late July as Senator Quinn has said but it will be at some stage in the near future. The consultation process will be finished in late July. We will have a definitive outcome that will be representative of the views of all the interested groups and consumers at large and can advance from that point.

I do not wish to pre-empt the decision based on the consultation process but Senator Quinn's point of view is based on his significant business experience since 1960 and should be explored instead of simply abolishing the potential of below-cost selling, which would give consumers cheaper products. The idea of a limited number of items per person should be abolished. If it is below-cost selling, we should each be entitled to tell sellers we want everything they have. If the larger multiples wanted to sell a product at a below-cost price, the smaller RGDATA members throughout the country could buy all of that product.