Minister vows to ensure new laws are fair on small shops

THE Government last night vowed to ensure fair play between shops after the Groceries Order ban on cut-price goods was abolished. Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin has replaced the order from today with new laws to encourage competition between shops.

He has also drafted in consumer watchdogs and the Competition Authority to report on how the new laws are working.

From today, below-cost selling will be legal but stores will be banned from rogue practices designed to drive competitors out of business.