Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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263. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking in response to large retailers offering the same products at different prices depending on whether a consumer has access to a loyalty card system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24545/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I am acutely aware that many families and workers are struggling with increased grocery costs and general rising prices on households. We are particularly concerned about the cost of essential staple items and welcome the recent cuts to prices of butter, milk and bread.

I met with representatives from the retail and grocery sector on 10 May and the high prices and factors driving inflation for grocery goods were discussed. During the meeting I received assurances that, where reductions in input costs filter through to products, consumers will benefit from this.

The CCPC's primary role is to promote competition and the interests and welfare of consumers. Notwithstanding this, the CCPC is not a price regulator and it does not have a role in setting, reviewing or approving prices which businesses freely set.

Irish consumer protection laws on pricing oblige businesses to clearly display the selling price of every item offered for sale, and they should make it clear what particular item the price relates to. Where this is not done, the CCPC can take enforcement action against businesses.

Regulations amending existing requirements to indicate product prices were adopted six months ago and the CCPC has since issued guidance on price reductions and conducted in-store inspections to promote compliance. Whilst only certain requirements of the amended regulations apply to prices announcements under loyalty schemes, the Consumer Protection Act 2007 contains a number of provisions around unfair and misleading commercial practices which continue to apply in all cases.

Even though the CCPC has no role in relation to the prices charged by large retailers depending on whether their customers have access to loyalty card schemes or not, they have a role to ensure they comply with the relevant consumer and competition laws as outlined above.

The Retail Forum, which I chair, is due to hold its next quarterly meeting on 21 June and an update on grocery costs will be discussed at that meeting. The Government has worked closely and effectively with the retail and grocery sector through Brexit and COVID 19 and will do so again on this occasion.