John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a timeline for the introduction of fair trade legislation. [17629/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 48 together.

The 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". 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. Government gave its approval to draft this legislation at its meeting on 5 July 2011 and I hope to publish it and present it to the Oireachtas before the end of this year.

On 6 July 2011, I also published the report and draft outline code of practice, which was submitted to me by Mr John Travers, the facilitator appointed to explore the possibility of agreeing a voluntary code. His view was that agreement on such a voluntary code was not achievable at present. Thus, in preparation for introducing a statutory code, I have initiated a consultation process in relation to the draft outline code prepared by Mr Travers. I have asked that submissions be made to my Department by 1 September 2011 at the latest.

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.