Farmer dissatisfaction over absence of competition bill from Dáil list

FARMERS want the Government to ease inequities in the food supply chain by introducing its promised Consumer and Competition Bill.

Referring to the recent Government publication announcing the legislative programme for the coming parliamentary session, IFA president John Bryan said farmers were very disappointed that the bill is not even listed for discussion.

Mr Bryan said he would hold the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton to account on the clear commitment he had given at a meeting with IFA in June that this bill would be published in the next Dáil session.

In the interim, farmers continue to face unfair trading retail practices, such as “hello money” which suppliers have to pay to secure a place for their goods on supermarket shelves.

The bill is listed under bills in respect of which heads have been agreed and texts are being drafted, with publication expected in early 2012, according to the Government’s latest legislative programme.

Mr Bryan said both Government parties, Fine Gael and Labour, had made a big play of this issue in the run up to the general election, along with the programme for government commitment to enact the Fair Trade Act.