andMr. Bruton asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy why he has not reintroduced the Consumer Protection Bill, 1977, either as originally introduced or with amendments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consumer Protection Bill.
21.
I intend to introduce as soon as possible a Bill following closely the lines of the Consumer Protection Bill. 1977. Further examination of the Bill as published, however has shown that it may require re-drafting in a number of important respects. I consider it tactically preferable to concentrate my attention on the Consumer Information Bill for the moment, but as soon as it is enacted —which I hope will be very shortly—I shall undertake the revision of the Consumer Protection Bill, and I hope to be able to introduce a new Bill in the next session.
Surely in the light of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply the enactment of the Consumer Information Bill has no bearing on the drafting of the Consumer Protection Bill? Why has this re-drafting not been done in the past six months? When does the Parliamentary Secretary expect to have the Consumer Protection Bill published?
The answer to the second question the Deputy asked is "the next session". In reply to the Deputy's first Supplementary, up to the time of publication in May, 1977 work was proceeding in the Department simultaneously on two Bills, the Consumer Information Bill and the Consumer Protection Bill. As the Deputy's colleague, my predecessor, is aware the Consumer Protection Bill was brought in rather hurriedly and published rather hurriedly during the term of the previous Government. It has been found since that there are some problems arising out of the Bill and that certain sections of it must be redrafted. There are two options open to me, whether to re-introduce it as it was or to prepare a new Bill. I favour the latter.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary state what sections of the Consumer Protection Bill, 1977 require redrafting?
That is a separate Question anticipating the legislation.
Is work on those matters going on in the Attorney General's Office now?
The Deputy will know all about it when the Bill is published in the next session.
I am ruling that Supplementary out of order.