Written answers
Wednesday, 14 February 2024
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Departmental Data
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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272. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of complaints received by the unit within his Department with responsibility for oversight and implementation of the unfair trading practices; the outcome or current status of such complaints, by year, since its establishment until the establishment of the agrifood regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6977/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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While under the remit of my Department, the Unfair Trading Practices Enforcement Authority received thirteen complaints.
There were no complaints in 2021, ten complaints in 2022 and three complaints in 2023. Following a screening process to review these complaints, eight of the complaints in 2022 and two from 2023, could not be investigated as the issues raised were not covered within the scope of the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Regulations (S.I. No. 198 of 2021). Two complaints in 2022 were subsequently withdrawn by the complainants and, as a result, no further action was warranted.
There is one complaint from 2023 which is still on-going and responsibility for the on-going investigation of this complaint transferred to An Rialálaí Agraibhia when it was established on 13 December 2023.
An Rialalaí Agraibhia, building on the work of the UTP Enforcement Authority, continues to raise awareness about UTPs and the right of actions by suppliers.
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