asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the protection his inspectorate affords to purchasers of domestic coal in the matter of weight and quality.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Domestic Coal.
34.
The Weights and Measures Acts have very extensive provisions governing the weighing, delivery and sale of coal, and these are enforced by the weights and measures inspectors. Any purchaser can call on the inspectors to weigh a quantity received — no matter how small — and if it is short the inspector will prosecute. In addition to this the inspectors in Dublin frequently check at coal suppliers' premises and inspect delivery vehicles and their loads in transit as a matter of routine. Any complaints about the quality of coal should be made to my Department, which will take them up with the suppliers.
I am tempted to ask the Minister whether he ever bought a bag of coal. Could he ensure that the interest of the purchasers will be better protected by having his inspectorate visit the coalyards and see the coal which is being put into different categories? People are buying what is purported to be a ton of best quality coal. They do not know whether they are getting a ton or whether they are getting the best quality. The protection the Minister gives in other areas should be made available to purchasers of coal.
Perhaps the public are not fully aware of their rights under the Weights and Measures Acts, and of the activities of the weights and measures inspectors. I agree with the Deputy that there is concern about the retailing of coal. It was for that reason that I set up the inquiry which is being held into the coal trade under the Prices Advisory Body (Coal Order) 1974. On 21st March, which is now over two months ago, the advisory body invited submissions from interested parties on the structure of the trade, costs, prices, stocks, and so on. If it is felt that the protection under the Weights and Measures Acts is inadequate, under the existing inquiry there will be an opportunity to air these inadequacies and, if inadequacies come to light, I will certainly take note of them.