asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will consider the establishment of an institute of standards or some similar body, which will ensure protection for consumers against sub-standard, shoddy and inferior goods.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Institute of Standards.
Under the Industrial Research and Standards Acts, 1946 and 1954, the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards is empowered to formulate specifications for commodities, processes and practices and, with the consent of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, to declare such specifications to be standard specifications. The Minister may prescribe a standard mark for use in connection with commodities to indicate that the commodities conform to standard specifications. The institute also has power to test and analyse commodities, intended for sale or for use by the public, with the object of ascertaining, for the public benefit, the characteristics of such commodities, and to publish the results of such tests and analyses.
I do not consider that it is necessary at present to introduce legislation to amend or extend the existing statutory provisions.