Joe O'Toole (Independent)

There is not the remotest chance of that happening. This is populist politics and will not make the slightest bit of difference.

I tend to agree with the legislation because it might finish the argument forever. This is no more than groups within business arguing with each other. I have argued with the chair of the Competition Authority on this issue. I have seen her arguments in favour of the removal of the groceries order, the arguments against and the paper produced by the authority on the matter. I agree with Senator Coghlan that there were issues in that paper which were clear, while others were unclear. However, ultimately for political reason, the groceries order had to go. The Minister is right about that.

However, I can see the merit in much of the argument against that course of action. The removal of the order is not the panacea people suppose. It will not introduce greater competition or lower prices. How do I know that? Let us take one company, Tesco, and compare its prices in its stores in Newry and Dundalk, which I have done. It is cheaper to import products from the United Kingdom into the Republic than into the North. Despite that, Tesco's goods are more expensive on the shelves in the South than in the North. Why? It is a simple matter of profit. What the market will bear, retailers will charge. It is a simple rule of economics that I learned from Senator Coghlan's erstwhile leader, Dr. Garret FitzGerald. It was the second rule, following on closely from the rule of supply and demand. So, let us not get carried away here——