Written answers

Wednesday, 15 November 2006

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Retail Sector

9:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will create a role for a regulator who represented the interests of small independent businesses that are facing challenges from national and international multiples; and to support the National Federation of Retail Newsagents on this issue. [38022/06]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The retail sector forms a key part of the Irish economy both in terms of the people it employs directly and the jobs it provides in the associated manufacturing, supply and distribution sectors. The retail sector is very important to the Irish consumer and, indeed, the consumer is vital to the retail sector.

This Government sees competition as the life-blood of a vibrant economy and we are committed to removing unwarranted constraints on competition in all sectors of the economy and placing the consumer at the top of the policy agenda. Consumers and businesses alike, regardless of size, benefit from the protection of Competition law. Competition law prohibits two types of behaviour:

collusion which has the object or effect of preventing, restricting or distorting competition, and

abuse of a dominant position.

Irish competition law is currently governed by the Competition Act 2002 and the Competition (Amendment) Act 2006 and is enforced by the Competition Authority which is an independent statutory body.

While some operators in the retail sector might feel uneasy about the additional competition generated by the multiples, I am pleased to see that many small players have faced up to this competition by investing further in their operations and by opening more new stores.

I have no plans to introduce a regulator to represent the interests of small independent businesses as I believe our current level of competition legislation and regulatory regime is more than adequate to foster a competitive economy where both small and large business can operate.

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