Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when he will introduce a code of practice for the grocery goods sector, and if it will be statutory or voluntary. [14626/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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1The Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to "enact the Fair Trade Act, which will ban a number of unfair trading practices in the retail sector such as 'hello money' which suppliers have to pay to secure a place for their goods on supermarket shelves".

I recently received the report of the facilitator appointed to explore the possibility of drawing-up a voluntary code of practice for the grocery goods sector. He concluded that it is very unlikely that a voluntary code of practice will be agreed between the bodies concerned at this time, given the wide disparity of views amongst stakeholders.

It is my intention to give effect to the commitment in the Programme for Government by including a specific enabling provision in the legislation, currently being prepared to merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority.

The Government is strongly committed to ensuring that Ireland continues to have vibrant agri-food and retail sectors, particularly given the importance of these sectors to the national economy. The Government considers it important, therefore, that there is balance in the relationship between the various players in the grocery goods sector. The introduction of a Code of Practice is intended to achieve such a balance taking into account the interests of all stakeholders in the grocery goods sector 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.