asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has yet received from the National Prices Commission their report on consumer protection; and, if so, if and when he intends to publish the report.
Written Answers. - Consumer Protection.
380.
The National Prices Commission were asked by my predecessor to examine in depth the whole field of consumer protection and to report on what measures might be applied to provide improved protection for the consumer. In accepting this assignment they said they would proceed by having prepared and published one or more discussion papers and would give interested parties full opportunity to submit their comments before drawing conclusions or formulating proposals for submission to the Minister.
The commission have already published a paper entitled Consumer Protection—a role for Local Government and they hope to publish soon another paper on the law relating to consumer protection. When they have considered the comments of interested parties on these two papers and on any other papers they may decide to publish concerning consumer protection they will make their report to me. I cannot at this stage say when this report will be available.
381.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if and when he intends to introduce a Trade Descriptions Bill.
I recognise the need for certain changes in the law relating to trade descriptions, but I do not intend to formulate my proposals for new consumer protection legislation until I have received and studied the National Prices Commission report on consumer protection generally.
304.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he proposes to introduce legislation similar to the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Bill now before the UK Parliament; and, if not, why.
382.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he intends to introduce legislation outlawing the clauses in contracts which exclude the consumer from the protection provided by the provisions of the Sale of Goods Act.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 382 together.
The Bill to which Deputy Lemass refers sets out to amend the Sale of Goods Act, 1893. Its main purpose is to remedy difficulties arising in connection with warranties and to strengthen the protection of the original Act in the way Deputy Burke refers to. I recognise that at least some of the provisions of the British Bill could be of value in this country, but as the National Prices Commission are preparing a comprehensive report on the subject of consumer protection I think that it would be advisable to consider their views before taking my decisions on the shape of new legislation.