Barry welcomes publication of new legislation to ensure fair playing field for consumers and suppliers

Fine Gael Cork East TD, Tom Barry, has welcomed the publication of the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014, which will offer greater protections to both consumers and suppliers. The long awaited piece of legislation has been published today (Monday) by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD.

“I welcome the Heads of the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014, which have finally been published. As chairperson of Fine Gael’s Internal   Committee on Jobs and Innovation, I have worked closely with Minister Bruton on this matter. This Bill will ensure a level playing field for both consumers and suppliers. Incidents like what happened last Christmas – where vegetables were sold for 5c; which was less than the price of harvesting, not to mention the cost of production – will be dealt with on a legislative footing.

“Over the past number of years, there has been an unhealthy and unfair relationship between the primary producer and the large multiples. This has led to practices such as market support and ‘hello money’ being extorted from the primary producers; ultimately endangering Irish jobs and our agri-industry.

“The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, of which I’m a member, invited all of the multiples to appear before it before Christmas and we published a document which has also informed the composition of the heads of this Bill. It was a very useful process; however, one large multiple refused to attend, which was indicative of the dismissive attitude held in some quarters towards this area.

“This Bill will aim to ensure a fair distribution of monies between primary producer, processor and retailer; and should also protect the consumer by offering good value for money with full transparency in relation to the costs associated with food production. This has proven, up to now, to be a difficult area to legislate for as many of the practices engaged in by the multiples have been hidden and secretive and took time to uncover. Now, with a clear understanding, we will finally bring stability to the entire sector.

“Long ago, when producers of cabbage felt they were not getting a fair price, they often placed a slip of paper between the leaves to indicate the price to the primary producer, thus embarrassing the retailer into passing on a fair and equitable share. This is a modern day and legislative equivalent of that very basic tactic.

“We demand and expect high quality food. But pressurising the primary producer to produce high quality food at below cost levels will lead to compromised situations; which is exactly what happened with the horsemeat scandal only a year ago. Here we saw retailers putting pressure on the suppliers to provide burgers for 8c each when the actual price required would have been closer to 80c.

“It is unfortunate to have to legislate in this area as goodwill, trust and fair play should always exist in these producer-retailer relations. However, some of the sharp practises of the past have led us to a situation where we have to make sure that we protect both the producer and the consumer and maintain high quality food and viable food production.”

ENDS