Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 120: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the proposals she has to introduce new regulations for the food supply chains in order to provide proper enforcement (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11340/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Renewed Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to "implement a Code of Practice for doing business in the Grocery Goods sector to develop a fair trading relationship between retailers and their suppliers" and "to review progress of the Code and if necessary to put in place a mandatory code". The Government will give effect to this commitment by including a specific provision in the legislation, currently being prepared to merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, which will allow for the introduction of statutory Codes of Practice in areas such as the grocery goods sector. I expect to publish this legislation later this year. In the interim period until the legislation is enacted, I intend to explore with all the relevant stakeholders the possibilities of agreeing a Voluntary Code, which would respect the interests of all parties. A Voluntary Code offers stakeholders the opportunity to develop a Code most suited to the dynamics of the Irish grocery goods sector and which could also form the basis of any subsequent statutory Code.

The relationships between suppliers and retailers was also identified as an issue of concern by the European Commission in its Communication last year on "A better functioning food supply chain in Europe". My Department is working closely with the Department of Agriculture in relation to the issues raised in the Commission's Communication.