Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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27. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding plans to ban so called hello money in the retail sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12168/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Competition law prohibits retailers from compelling suppliers to make payments for the advertising or display of grocery goods. Anyone who has evidence of traders engaging in such practices should bring this evidence to the attention of the Competition Authority in order that it can be fully investigated. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to regulate for certain practices in the grocery goods sector. This commitment will be given statutory effect through enabling provisions in the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill. Work on drafting this Bill, which is included in the “A list” in the Government’s current Legislative Programme, is at an advanced stage and I expect to be in a position to seek Government approval shortly to publish the Bill.

In addition to introducing enabling provisions to regulate for certain practices in the grocery goods sector, the Bill will, inter alia, merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, update and reform competition law on foot of a review of the operation and implementation of the Competition Act 2002, and give effect to the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Media Mergers.