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Dáil
‹ Order of Business

Consumer and competition Bill

Summary

Deputy Butler seeks a statutory grocery-sector code and clearer country-of-origin labelling; the Taoiseach says the Bill will merge consumer and competition bodies, regulate retail conduct and address media mergers, with publication expected this session.

When will the proposed consumer and competition Bill, to make provision for a statutory code of conduct for the grocery goods sector, come before the House? There are multinationals in this country whose products are labelled "of" or "for", but I do not want to see those words on any product.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

I do not want to hear about it either.

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I want to see what is being put in the products. In the last couple of weeks we have seen how incorrect material was put in, thus producing bad products.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

What legislation is the Deputy talking about?

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We should have "Made in Ireland" put on them, which would create jobs in this country as well. We must look at this serious problem.

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Seán Barrett An Ceann Comhairle Fine Gael

It is a very serious problem, yes, but what legislation is the Deputy talking about?

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I want to know when the consumer and competition Bill is coming before the House. Can it be inserted in the Bill that if items are not made in this country, it should be clearly stated?

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There is cross-party support for that.

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

The Bill deals with three matters: the amalgamation of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority; providing a statutory code of conduct for the retail goods sector; and effecting the recommendations of the advisory council on media mergers. That legislation will be produced in this session.

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The report of the interdepartmental committee on the State's involvement with the Magdalene laundries, completed by Senator Martin McAleese, is being finalised and is with the Minister. When is it intended to publish the report? Will the Taoiseach consider making the report available to survivors' groups ahead of publication?

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

As Deputy Calleary is aware, the Government requested Senator Martin McAleese to deal with this report. I understand that it is in the final stages of completion. Following the Senator's long discussions with various groups and the women involved, I am not sure whether he intends to give it to them in advance. They are pretty well acquainted with what the conclusions of the report will be. I expect it to come to the Minister in the near future. I expect it to be published and we will then have an opportunity to discuss it in the Houses.

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Last week, I asked about legislation that will underpin the pyrite levy fund and was told it will be part of the Finance Bill. I have subsequently been contacted in writing by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government who tells me it is required to be stand-alone legislation. Is such legislation likely to be brought forward quickly? Will it be published in this session? Will the pyrite resolution board do its work in parallel with the development of this legislation, or will it cause delays in delivering a solution to people who are in a dire situation?

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Enda Kenny The Taoiseach Fine Gael

This issue is of concern to a great number of people. I have been in a number of the houses affected. The good news is that a decision has been made to introduce a pyrite remediation scheme. It was hoped that this would be part of the Finance Bill, but the imposition of levies to deal with the scheme will require primary legislation. I know that the Minister, Deputy Hogan, has written to the Deputy about this matter. He said he wants to work with the Attorney General and the Parliamentary Counsel so that such legislation can be drafted and brought before the House as quickly as possible. We are aware of its urgency. It is a matter of intense concern to those families who have to deal with it every day. I would like to see the legislation being brought to the House as quickly as possible. I am not sure of the extent of the complexity involved in drafting the Bill to deal with these levies, but the Deputy has my word that the Minister and the Attorney General will give it whatever priority they can to bring it before the House as quickly as possible.

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Following Deputy Butler's earlier point, I was going to ask about the consumer and competition Bill. I welcome the Taoiseach's response that it will come before us in this term. It is important to provide a statutory code of conduct for the grocery goods sector and how multiples deal with farmers, processors and customers.

May I ask the Taoiseach about the assisted decision-making (capacity) Bill? It is hoped this will reform the law on mental capacity, taking into account the Law Reform Commission's report on vulnerable adults and the law.

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