Dunnes Stores' refusal to turn up before an Oireachtas inquiry into high supermarket prices in the Republic is not acceptable, the chairman of the inquiry has said.
The Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, chaired by Fianna Fáil TD Mr Donie Cassidy, today begins two weeks of public hearings.
Tesco Ireland's chief executive, Mr Gordon Fryett, and a company director Mr Dermot Breen will appear this afternoon, as will Superquinn's owner, Mr Feargal Quinn. Criticising Dunnes Stores last night, Mr Cassidy said the committee had given "17 days notice" that it wanted to interview key personnel.
"They said it was short notice and that they were just not available. For me, it is ample notice. If they require more time we will be patient.
"However, if they are saying a blank 'No' then we will have to think out our strategy. That will not be an acceptable response," he told The Irish Times.
The FF Westmeath TD said he intended to discuss his "options" with committee colleagues.
