New legislation to help combat anti-competitive practices – Deputy Humphreys

Fine Gael TD for Cavan-Monaghan Heather Humphreys has said that a new bill which seeks to strengthen competition law enforcement represents good news for consumers and for those seeking to set up small businesses.

Speaking in the Dail on the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011, Deputy Humphreys welcomed the proposed legislation which she said would help to improve competition levels by clamping down on those found to be committing competition offences and engaging in white collar crime. During her address, Deputy Humphreys also raised the issue of below cost selling and the negative impact it is having on the farming community.

“One of the key tasks facing the Government at present is to create the necessary environment to allow businesses to start-up and flourish. Given the current economic climate and the fact that many people and in particular many families are working off a reduced level of income, I believe it is now more important than ever that the appropriate measures are in place to ensure that organisations are not allowed engage in anti-consumer practices such as price fixing.

“This bill will provide for harsher penalties, longer prison sentences and increased fines for those found to be in breach of competition law. It is important to remember that business people who conspire to create cartels and drive up prices are hurting ordinary consumers the most. At a time when many people are struggling financially, it would be remiss of the Government if we did not tackle issues such as cartel activity and price fixing.

“In addition to the benefits that this legislation will bring to the consumer it is important to take into account that the primary producer gets a fair price for their goods and it is not driven down by low cost selling and this is particularly relevant in the food industry where the farmer in constantly working inside tight margins.

“This is a major concern in my own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan where we have a large percentage of intensive farmers particularly in the pig and poultry industry. There is a belief that below cost selling is coming out of the farmer’s pockets and I think it is important that these fears are addressed in the future and I would ask the Minister to take these points on board.”

Fine Gael TD for Cavan-Monaghan Heather Humphreys has said that a new bill which seeks to strengthen competition law enforcement represents good news for consumers and for those seeking to set up small businesses.

Speaking in the Dail on the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2011, Deputy Humphreys welcomed the proposed legislation which she said would help to improve competition levels by clamping down on those found to be committing competition offences and engaging in white collar crime. During her address, Deputy Humphreys also raised the issue of below cost selling and the negative impact it is having on the farming community.

“One of the key tasks facing the Government at present is to create the necessary environment to allow businesses to start-up and flourish. Given the current economic climate and the fact that many people and in particular many families are working off a reduced level of income, I believe it is now more important than ever that the appropriate measures are in place to ensure that organisations are not allowed engage in anti-consumer practices such as price fixing.

“This bill will provide for harsher penalties, longer prison sentences and increased fines for those found to be in breach of competition law. It is important to remember that business people who conspire to create cartels and drive up prices are hurting ordinary consumers the most. At a time when many people are struggling financially, it would be remiss of the Government if we did not tackle issues such as cartel activity and price fixing.

“In addition to the benefits that this legislation will bring to the consumer it is important to take into account that the primary producer gets a fair price for their goods and it is not driven down by low cost selling and this is particularly relevant in the food industry where the farmer in constantly working inside tight margins.

“This is a major concern in my own constituency of Cavan-Monaghan where we have a large percentage of intensive farmers particularly in the pig and poultry industry. There is a belief that below cost selling is coming out of the farmer’s pockets and I think it is important that these fears are addressed in the future and I would ask the Minister to take these points on board.”