Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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65. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment his plans to ban below-cost selling for fresh foods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17092/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I have no legislative power to impose a ban on below-cost selling of any grocery good. The Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order 1987 was revoked by section 4 of the Competition (Amendment) Act 2006 (No. 4 of 2006) because the Order was considered to be anti-competitive and therefore not in the best interests of consumers. Relationships between suppliers and buyers are based on commercial considerations and prices are determined through hard negotiations which is in the best interests of consumers.

Matters relating to food policy are the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.