Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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658. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the low cost selling of vegetables (details supplied). [1125/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is anxious to ensure the continued viability of the maximum number of vegetable producers in the country. Clearly the price obtained by producers is enormously important to their viability.

However, my Department has no involvement in setting prices for agricultural or horticultural products. This is primarily a matter between the producer and the retailer.

However, recognising that there are concerns regarding the relationships between suppliers and the retail sector, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has been drafting legislation to provide for new rules of conduct for the grocery trade which I understand they intend to introduce in the current Dáil session.