asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the action he proposes to take to protect consumers against the sale of dangerous and shoddy toys and games, especially during the Christmas season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Toy Sales.
21.
Following the publication in the Press of a notice calling the attention of manufacturers and traders to the terms of the compulsory Irish standard specification relating to toxicity and cellulosic content of toys, inspectors from my Department commenced a countrywide inspection in mid-November, to check that toys complied with the requirements of the standard. A number of the toys purchased are at present being tested by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards. Persons found to contravene the order imposing the standard will be liable to prosecution.
There is no legislation dealing specially with shoddy as distinct from dangerous toys and games. The consumer legislation which I am promoting will give consumers protection against goods being represented as having quality they do not have, but I do not think it would be wise or practicable to attempt to ban articles from the market on grounds of quality alone.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that the question concerns substantial imports and is he satisfied with the present position realising that Christmas is a time when shoddy articles could be off-loaded to customers when probably they would not be as critical as they would normally be? Are the restrictions severe enough?
I realise that there is a higher rate of purchase of toys around Christmas and for that reason I have asked that a countrywide inspection of toys available on the market be carried out by inspectors of my Department. This inspection commenced on 15th November and already a number of toys have been purchased for further testing to see if they conform with the safety requirements which have been referred to.