Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his policy on a code of practice for the grocery goods sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13175/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains a specific commitment to enact legislation to regulate certain practices in the grocery goods sector. I intend to give effect to this commitment by including a specific enabling provision in the legislation currently being prepared by my Department to merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, which will allow for the introduction of a statutory Code of Practice in the grocery goods sector. It is expected that this legislation will be published later this year.

The Government is 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.