Minister challenges FG on Groceries Order

The Trade Minister Micheál Martin said this afternoon that the Government was concerned consumers weren't getting value for money in a number of areas, but he told the Dáil the Government was not a price-controlling agency.

Batting off criticism about 'Rip-off Ireland' from Fine Gael and Labour, the Minister said more competition would drive prices down.

And he challenged Fine Gael to state its position on doing away with the order banning below-cost selling.

Mr Martin said: "I think issues like the Groceries Order are a constraint.

"And I think issues like that are issues where we can create a greater competitive environment in terms of our local economy."