asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the steps the Government are taking to conform with European measures regarding consumer protection.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consumer Protection.
8.
The EEC consumer protection programme is concerned with objectives falling into three categories.
The first objective is to provide effective protection against hazards likely to affect health and safety and to protect standards of quality. The Community has adopted a number of directives in relation to these matters and others are in course of preparation.
The second main objective is the protection of consumers' economic interests. The principal activities of the Community's consumer programme in this respect have been the preparation of proposals for draft directives.
The third principal objective is the provision of adequate facilities for advice, help and redress for consumers. and ensuring proper consumer information, education and, where appropriate, representation on representative bodies. A general programme of action in this sphere is expected to be approved by the council shortly.
The Government have collaborated fully in the preparation of the general programme and of individual directives and draft directives. Where directives are already in existence—for instance, relating to food standards, to the safety of low voltage electrical equipment or to textile labelling—it has given effect to them by regulations made under the European Communities Acts or under other statutory powers.
Has the Minister stated clearly, in reply to the question, what action the Minister for Industry and Commerce has taken with regard to consumer protection here?
I have, yes. I have listed the three main criteria under which the EEC consumer protection programme can be assessed. The first of these is health and safety; the second is economic interest and the third is advice. The Government have collaborated fully in the preparation of the general programme and of individual directives and draft directives. Where directives are already in existence, for instance, relating to food standards, to the safety of low voltage electrical equipment or to textile labelling, they have given effect to them by regulations made under the European Communities Acts or under other statutory powers.
Would I be correct in suggesting that the Minister does not propose taking any unilateral action, that he will wait for the long-drawn-out effect of these directives?
Any action which the Minister would take here would have to be in conformity with the EEC directives. As he said in his reply, he is contributing directly to the formation of these directives at Community level and those, then, apply here.
Not necessarily. Many countries are proceeding in anticipation and have already their own consumer protection laws.
I have no information here about that but I think the Minister did say, on a previous occasion, that he was very concerned about the whole field of consumer protection——
Of course, the answer is that the Minister is doing nothing about it.
——and that he was preparing legislation to give effect to such laws.
There is a lot of work to be done in Brussels, and all the complaints that are made over there too.
It is rather silly for Deputies to come in here, having promoted, voted for and now being a member of the EEC, to complain then that when work is being done in Brussels we should act as policemen for what is happening there at the same time.
Does the Minister reject the idea that there is enough brains and ability in this country for us to give a lead occasionally in Brussels?
(Interruptions.)
Question No. 9.
Is the Minister suggesting that we supported membership of the EEC on the grounds that it would become a scapegoat for every ill and lack of action that occurred on this side?
The Deputy is not listening to what I am saying or prefers not to understand what I am saying. We are a member of the European Economic Community. There are a number of committees of which we are members. We contribute, through our brains and industry, to the operation of these committees and formulate the directives and laws applicable to the whole nine countries. I do not see anything wrong in that. I think it is a very good idea. I am glad to say that what we are contributing is of worth to the Community as a whole.
We can conform to EEC regulations and take our own action too.