Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The sale of alcohol is essentially regulated by the liquor licensing laws, which are the policy responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Law Reform and I have no direct function in this matter.

The use of sales promotions and pricing strategies in any business is a legitimate marketing tool and is the normal outcome of the competitive process. I have no direct function in relation to such practices which are a matter for the retailer and are not an offence unless they involve abuse of a dominant position. A determination on whether a retailer is abusing a dominant position in the marketplace would necessitate a comprehensive investigation by the Competition Authority. The Authority is the independent statutory body responsible for enforcing competition law in the State and complaints of any alleged anti-competitive practice should be referred to it.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The use of sales promotions and pricing strategies in any business is a legitimate marketing tool and is the normal outcome of the competitive process. I have no direct function in relation to such practices which are a matter for the retailer and are not an offence unless they involve abuse of a dominant position. A determination on whether a retailer is abusing a dominant position in the marketplace would necessitate a comprehensive investigation by the Competition Authority. The Authority is the independent statutory body responsible for enforcing competition law in the State and complaints of any alleged anti-competitive practice should be referred to it.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In respect of those retail stores that are organised as limited companies, the contents of the financial statements including the profits of those companies are governed by relevant Irish and EU Company Law and by the applicable accounting standards.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am aware of the concerns that have been expressed in relation to the differential in consumer prices between this country and certain other jurisdictions and particularly in the case of our nearest neighbour the United Kingdom. Whilst consumer prices in this jurisdiction had increased at a faster rate than a number of other jurisdictions in the EU, prices have fallen considerably in Ireland in the last 18 to 24 months. The latest EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices, which is accepted as the most appropriate measure for community wide price comparisons, published by the Central Statistics Office show that prices decreased in Ireland by 0.8% in the 12 months to October 2010, whereas prices throughout the rest of the EU increased by 2.3% in the same period. Insofar as the UK is concerned, the Index shows that prices rose by 3.2% in this period.

It is clear, therefore, that prices are falling more rapidly in Ireland than elsewhere in the EU. This overall narrowing of the differential in prices is most welcome, not least by consumers, and follows on from the specific measures taken by the Government to restore national competitiveness. The Government is fully committed to pursuing the competitiveness agenda, including in the area of prices so as to ensure that Irish consumers receive and can expect to receive a fair deal in the goods and services that they buy.