Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the engagement his Department has had with supermarkets in relation to price increases. [35028/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Government acknowledges the rising cost of groceries and its impact on consumers. Businesses in Ireland are generally free to set their own prices, once they do so independently and in compliance with consumer protection law.

My department has maintained ongoing engagement with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) particularly in light of recent economic challenges. This engagement is part of our broader efforts to ensure fair competition and consumer protection in the retail sector.

In 2023 the CCPC published a High-Level Analysis of the Irish Grocery Retail Sector, and that analysis found that there was no indication of excessive pricing in the grocery retail sector. The CCPC has continued to review grocery price inflation in Ireland and notes that it remains broadly in line with the European average and is likely to be driven in part by increasing costs in other areas such as wages and agricultural produce. Minister Alan Dillon met with the CCPC last week and asked for an update to the June 2023 paper on the High-level analysis of the Irish Grocery Retail Sector.

The CCPC is the statutory body responsible for enforcing the wide range of legislation focused on protecting consumers. The CCPC provides information to consumers about their rights, personal finance and product safety, through a consumer helpline, a dedicated section of its website, public awareness campaigns and through various financial education initiatives. The CCPC is not a price regulator and does not have a role in approving price levels across the economy.

The CCPC continues to promote and monitor compliance with competition and consumer protection laws across all sectors of the market. Where appropriate, the CCPC investigates suspected breaches of competition or consumer protection law and takes enforcement action if the investigation uncovers sufficient evidence of a breach.