asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, having regard to the continued growth of door-to-door selling and to losses suffered by purchasers by reason of the difficulty of tracing many door-to-door salesman, he will introduce legislation to prohibit door-to-door sales except by duly registered persons bearing official permits, making it a condition for registration that the salesman should deposit a sum of money with the State or take out a suitable bond.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Door-to-Door Sales.
26.
Mr. Ryan
I would refer the Deputy to the provisions of the Pedlars Acts of 1871 and 1881, and the Hawkers Act of 1888 as amended by the Finance Act of 1930. I have no function as regards these Acts.
Mr. Ryan
While thanking the Minister for a statement of the law, is he not aware that there has been a very undesirable growth of irresponsible door-to-door sales, particularly in city suburbs, in recent times, as a result of which many poor families have had court proceedings taken against them and have found themselves in the enforcement courts or elsewhere? Having regard to that and having regard to the matter I already asked the Minister for Transport and Power to inquire into, could I persuade the Minister to give very careful consideration to the need for up-to-date legislation to control door-to-door sales in order to ensure that people will be protected against these fly-by-night boys who are selling goods at doors, having hire purchase and other contracts signed and then failing to deliver the goods?
If the Deputy wanted to ask me about hire purchase, he should have mentioned it in his question. In the case of sales effected by pedlars, the pedlars require to have a certificate from the local superintendent of police. People who sell goods from door-to-door from vehicles, either horse-drawn or mechanically propelled, are obliged to have a licence from the Revenue Commissioners. I have no function in relation to either of these two activities and as I said, if the Deputy wanted to ask something about hire purchase, he should have mentioned it in his question.
Does the Minister say that a person who makes a cash sale at the door needs a permit?
If he is a pedlar, a man travelling on foot.
Is there a difference between that type of person and the man who asks people to contract for the purchase of books, electrical equipment or what have you? Do these people need a permit from the local superintendent?
This is not my legislation. I can only give the Deputy the background information I have given. I cannot distinguish between pedlars and those who seek to have contractual obligations imposed. If the Deputy wants the information, he should put down a question.
The Minister should know that there has been a lot of fraud recently and that people have been duped.
Hardly to the extent of buying three washing machines.
Surely the Minister has completely misunderstood the question? The question covers two types of person, one of whom is the person who brings the goods or delivers the goods when the sale is effected. He has answered in regard to that. There is also the type of salesman to which the Acts referred to by the Minister do not apply.
I said to Deputy Corish that I could not distinguish between pedlars and those who seek to have contractual obligations entered into. I do not know to what extent they are covered by the Pedlars Act.
The question covers both. A salesman is in both classes.