A merger of the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs with the Competition Authority to create a consumer-focused economic regulator is to be examined by the Consumer Strategy Group.
The body - which was set up by the Tánaiste in March to advise on consumer policy - will also examine the Groceries Order which bans below cost selling by retailers.
Although the two issues are not specifically included in the terms of reference of the body, informed sources say that they will form part of its work load.
The group, which is chaired by Ms Ann Fitzgerald, chief executive of the Irish Association of Investment Managers, has been asked to report within nine months. Its brief is to advise on the development of a national consumer policy.
Combining the two bodies would bring Ireland in line with the approach adopted in the United States and Britain where the Federal Trade Commission and the Office of Fair Trade respectively are responsible for both the enforcement of consumer rights and regulating competition.
Currently the Competition Authority - led by Dr John Fingleton - is an independent body, while the office of the Director of Consumer Affairs - headed by Ms Carmel Foley - comes under the auspices of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The Groceries Order has been in place since 1987 and was brought in after the collapse of the H Williams chain which was blamed on a price war.
It has been reviewed periodically and, despite recommendations from the Competition Authority and the Competition and Mergers Review Group, has been retained by successive governments.
Independent retailers, the Irish Farmers Association and others have lobbied for its retention.
The review was ordered by the Tánaiste last year against a background of high inflation. The dramatic fall in inflation seen since the start of the year - including food prices - has reduced the pressure for a swift decision.
Responsibility for ensuring compliance with the order rests with the Director of Consumer Affairs, who earlier this year took two supermarkets to court for selling baby food below cost.
The consumer strategy group has 10 members drawn from a variety of backgrounds. They are Ms Orna Ni Chionna, former management consultant; Mr John O'Sullivan, founder and managing director of Aircoach; Mr Alex Shuster, law lecturer at Trinity College; Ms Rosheen Callender, economist with SIPTU; Ms Aileen O'Toole, former journalist and marketing consultant; Mr Simon Nugent, former chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce of Ireland; Mr Colin Hunt, director of research at Goodbody Stockbrokers; Dr Edward Shinnick, economics lecturer at UCC; and Mr Dermott Jewell, chief executive of the Consumers Association of Ireland.
