COMPETITION AUTHORITY CALLS FOR MORE CONSUMER CHOICE IN SHOPPING

In a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, the Competition Authority called today (Thursday 6th April, 2000) for the current nation-wide ban on stores above 3,000 square metres to be lifted. The Authority said that the issues concerned would be better decided at local level, taking local conditions into account.

"Irish consumers should be free to choose where and how they spend the pound in their pocket," said an Authority spokesperson. "Keeping one particular type of store out of the market restricts consumer choice and denies consumers the benefits of lower prices which superstores, because of their size, can offer."

The Authority acknowledged that there were many important issues (traffic, environmental issues etc.) affecting superstore development. However, it pointed out that these issues did not affect all parts of the country equally. The Authority's view was that these issues should be taken into account in the context of local conditions by local authorities making the planning decisions which suited their localities, and not through a blanket cap on the size of stores which affected all parts of the country equally.

On a related issue, the Authority confirmed that it remained of the view that the Groceries Order should be repealed, saying that by keeping food prices high it had had adverse effects on competition in the grocery sector and, as a result, on consumers.

For further information please contact Isolde Goggin at 804 5407 or 087 237 1474.