Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 933: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address the crisis in the small retail business here; and if he will meet the National Federation of Retail Newsagents soon on this matter. [28272/06]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 934: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will support the National Federation of Retail Newsagents particularly in relation to rising costs, decreased margins, theft, insurance, waste disposal charges, rent and the need for a regulator. [28273/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 933 and 934 together.

The Small Business Forum, which I set up last year, and whose report I published in May, were asked by me to examine the overall current environment for conducting small business in Ireland and to advise on the adequacy and appropriateness of public policy responses in the context of that environment.

In carrying out their review the Forum sought public submissions on the problems facing small businesses generally and also organised a series of consultation meetings around the country with small business owners and managers. In drawing up their final report they had regard to issues such as rising costs, tighter margins and the need for balanced local authority charges, and made recommendations accordingly. In launching the report I indicated that I was accepting, generally, the Forum's recommendations in relation to the areas of responsibility of my own Department and that I would be pursuing implementation of the other recommendations with my colleagues in Government.

I have not, to date, received any request for a meeting from the National Federation of Retail Newsagents. Neither am I aware of demands for a regulator in this sector nor am I clear about what such a proposal might entail. However my view is that a regulator for newsagents is unlikely to be consistent with the principle of better regulation and would also be unlikely to have a positive impact on competition in the sector concerned.