asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he has received the report of the Restrictive Practices Commission into below-cost selling; and, if so, when it is proposed to publish the findings.

I have now received the Restrictive Practices Commission's report of its inquiry into the retail sale of grocery goods below cost. The report is the subject of urgent examination to establish the interest of the consumer as well as that of the trade sectors involved. I expect to be in a position to publish it early in the new year.

Can the Minister give any indication if the report recommends action on below-cost selling?

I am not prepared to comment on that report until it is published in the new year. As is usual, I will make my comments on it then.

The Minister has not bothered his head to look at the report.

The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism is not present for some reason, and I presume he has a reason, because normally he has——

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Tánaiste was not present either this morning.

Is the Minister aware that below cost selling is being used by multiple giants to force private grocers out of business? The urgency of this matter cannot be overstressed. How long has the report been before the Minister?

The report will be published in the New Year. It has been in my office for a couple of weeks.

When will it be published in the new year?

Early in the new year.

Before the general election.

The activities of the multi-national giants at present are causing severe hardship and unemployment, and I should like to know the steps the Minister proposes to take to act on the recommendations, if there are any, in the report to take such people to task?

It is reasonable to expect that when the report is published I will comment on it then.