Dáil Éireann - Volume 313 - 03 May, 1979

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trading Stamp Operations.

Mr. Blaney Mr. Blaney

8. Mr. Blaney asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if it is intended to introduce legislation to control or abolish trading stamp operations in the State.

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn: Yes. A Bill to make trading stamp schemes subject to statutory control will be circulated to members of the House during this session.

Mr. Blaney Mr. Blaney

Mr. Blaney: Is the proposal to control or to abolish?

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn

2123

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn: At this stage I am not in a position to inform the House whether it would be a decision to [2123] abolish or control. However, it would be proper for me to say that there is no specific intention to abolish at this stage.

Mr. Blaney Mr. Blaney

Mr. Blaney: May I further ask the Minister whether, in the context of the proposals that may emerge by way of a Bill in due course, the matter of discriminatory placing of these trading stamps with one trader rather than another will be taken fully into account? Secondly, may I ask—the major trading stamp operators operate outside the country rather than within—whether that matter would be dealt with and perhaps changed? Thirdly, in regard to this whole matter, will it be fully taken into consideration that for every £4 paid by a trader for stamps not more than £1 of those £4 ever goes back to the customer? Would not it be better for the consumer all round, if prices were lowered by the amount the stamps cost? The true saving would then be in the pockets of consumers rather than in the pockets of some of these get rich quick merchants, not alone within the country but outside it.

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn: All of the matters raised by the Deputy have been taken fully into consideration in preparing legislation which would be acceptable and fair, as far as that is possible, right across the board.

Mr. O'Toole Mr. O'Toole

Mr. O'Toole: The Minister of State has said that she intends introducing legislation this session. Surely at this stage she must know whether she is talking about abolition or control, and would she let the House know?

An Ceann Comhairle Joseph Brennan

An Ceann Comhairle: I think the Minister answered that question.

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn: I did.

Mr. O'Toole Mr. O'Toole

Mr. O'Toole: I do not think so. I think she evaded the question and did not tell us whether she had in mind control or abolition.

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn

2124

Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn: At this stage I would say that it would be a matter, [2124] first of all, for the Government to see the legislation and, secondly, for me to inform the House as to what is in the legislation when it is introduced.

Mr. O'Toole Mr. O'Toole

Mr. O'Toole: I was not aware that the Government had not seen the legislation.

Mr. Blaney Mr. Blaney

Mr. Blaney: Since this matter has yet to be finally decided and in all the circumstances—more than we could talk about here—might I appeal to the Minister that abolition would seem to be the only way to deal with this outfit?

Dáil Éireann 313 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Trading Stamp Operations.

Questions

19790503