Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not know of any Senator who is against the Bill. We all welcome it and I congratulate the Minister for bringing it forward.

In respect of section 10(6)(a), what is the penalty if an offence is committed? That is not included in the Bill.Will it be a small fine or a prison sentence? Section 10(6)(b) refers to advertises, promotes or causes to be advertised. In a situation where a supermarket advertises below-cost selling on Facebook, is that covered by this Bill? What is the position in relation to fake product sales? For example, if, to encourage people into a store a supermarket advertises in its windows that it is selling a particular product at below cost even though it does not actually stock that produce in store, is there an offence committed there and, if so what, is the offence that is committed? In most Bills that are enacted offences are outlined.

I believe that below cost selling is a real issue. There is a lot of alcohol being purchased in Northern Ireland for sale in the South. Binge drinking is associated with below cost selling.