asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the fact that the right of newsagents to sell periodicals and magazines is restricted by the Irish Newsagents' Association, an organisation that is controlled extranationally; and, if so, if he proposes to introduce proposals for legislation to rectify this unsatisfactory restriction which affects the livelihood of smaller newsvendors throughout the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Restriction of Newsagents' Rights.
From the information available to me, it appears that the distribution of imported periodicals and magazines is controlled by an external trade organisation which relies, to some extent, on the advice of the Irish Retail Newsagents, Booksellers and Stationers Association. There is no statutory authority which would enable me to have the circumstances in this matter fully investigated or to enforce any remedial measures which, after investigation, might be found necessary. There is in course of preparation a Bill to deal generally with complaints about restrictive practices, which will. I hope, be introduced later this year, and it is my intention to have the circumstances connected with the distribution of periodicals and magazines investigated under the machinery which will be established on the enactment of this Bill.