Martin defends consultation on below-cost selling

Minister for Trade Micheál Martin defended his move to order a further consultation process on below-cost selling before deciding whether to revoke the Groceries Order.

Rejecting Opposition criticism that he was always "a report away from a hard decision" he said that he had an open mind on the issue and "you must take on board what people have to say" in making decisions.

He also told the Dáil that any change in the status of the order would require new legislation. Speaking during Enterprise, Trade and Employment questions he said that the order raised a number of points, particularly the issue of net invoice discounting.

Labour's trade spokesman Brendan Howlin criticised the new consultation process and accused the Minister of having a reputation of always "being a report away from a hard decision".

Mr Howlin said: "We now know the views of virtually everyone in the country on the Groceries Order, except those of the Minister.

"We know the views of the Oireachtas committee, Opposition deputies who have spoken on it and the consumer strategy group. We have not, however, heard the views of the Minister who has responsibility for this matter."

Rejecting the criticism, Mr Martin said the consultation process was under way, and submissions were being accepted up to July 31st. The consumer strategy group (CSG) report made 30 recommendations including that the Groceries Order be abolished entirely.

While the report favoured the revocation of the Groceries Order in its entirety, it also recognised that there was well-founded argument on both sides of the debate.

Pressed to give his view on the Groceries Order the Minister said he would not pre-empt the outcome of the consultation period.

Mr Howlin said that the needs of cities such as Dublin, Cork or Galway were quite different from those of towns like Wexford, Mullingar and Tralee. The local community better understood what was most appropriate "to maintain the heart of towns and accessible shopping precincts".