Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if a person (details supplied) has now completed their report on a voluntary code of conduct in the grocery goods sector; when this report will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45178/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was appointed to facilitate discussions with stakeholders in relation to the drawing up of a Voluntary Code of Practice for the Grocery Goods Sector. The person concerned is currently continuing his engagement with the relevant stakeholders in relation to the development of a Voluntary Code and I expect to receive his report in the coming weeks. The engagement of the person concerned followed on from the commitment in the Renewed Programme for Government" 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 intends to 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 a statutory Code of Conduct in the grocery goods sector. It is expected that this legislation will be published in 2011.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that there is a fair balance in the relationships between the various players in the grocery goods sector, particularly given the importance of this sector to the national economy. The introduction of a Code, as provided for in the Renewed Programme for Government, is intended to achieve such a balance taking into account the interests of all stakeholders including the interests of the consumer and the need to ensure that there is no impediment to the passing-on of lower prices to consumers.