Groceries Order - Decision a victory for people power

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin announced the repeal of the Groceries Order, which banned below cost selling of grocery goods.

He said that he had “no option” as the order, first introduced in 1987, was against the interest of consumers for the last 18 years. Suddenly, he admitted that the legislation was “flawed in a whole host of ways.”

Having tried to savage consumer advocate Eddie Hobbs, who highlighted the damage being done by the Groceries Order in his Rip Off Republic series on RTÉ during the summer, the Government has recognised the imperative of accepting the will of the people.