Feargal Quinn (Independent)

We all were jolted by the EUROSTAT figures. I suggest the fault and the answer is in our own hands. When I entered the grocery business way back in the 1960s power was in the hands of the suppliers and those of us in the grocery business were told by Jacob's, Cadbury and others what we must do, what we must sell and we could not sell at a certain price or they would not supply us. Then in the next 20 years power came into the hands of retailers, I am delighted to say, and we were able to say to the suppliers that we would do what we wanted. Power is now in the hands of customers, the citizens of Ireland, the consumers. They are the ones who have the choice, particularly since competition is no longer in the hands of Irish retailers but in the hands of retailers from whatever part of the world. Every town in Ireland it seems has two German retailers, one British retailer and a number of Irish retailers. If we have anybody to blame for high prices, it is ourselves for not being able to insist on getting lower prices because there is fierce competition.

I disagree with my friend, Senator Norris, on the groceries order. The groceries order was there to protect suppliers. It did not protect suppliers. If it did protect suppliers, it was not in the interests of consumers. I agreed that the groceries order needed to go because that was in the interests of consumers.