asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if it is his intention to play a positive role in the development of EEC consumer legislation; and if he will make a statement on the further development of Irish consumer legislation in the context of the EEC consumer protection programme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Consumer Legislation.
4.
It is my intention that my Department will continue to play a positive role, as it has been doing, in the development of EEC consumer legislation.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, existing Irish legislation already provides for a number of the measures being proposed by the European Commission in draft directives for the protection of the consumer. I might mention in that connection the Prices Acts, the Food Standards Act, 1974, and the Consumer Information Act, 1978. Also, many of the provisions of the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Bill, 1978, which has recently been circulated, and is at present being discussed in the Dáil, are in accordance with the principles for the protection of the economic interests of the consumer as set out in the "preliminary programme of the European Economic Community for a consumer protection and information policy" approved by the Council of Ministers on 14 April 1975. I am preparing, too, a Consumer Credit Bill but the completion of this has been deferred pending clarification of the intentions of the European Commission in regard to a draft directive on the subject.
Is the Minister aware that mainly because of British opposition it looks as if the EEC programme will be delayed for some considerable time? Does she agree legislation should be prepared at home dealing with such things as credit sales and door-to-door sales which are on the increase and against which the consumer needs protection? We should proceed ahead of that EEC programme which looks as if it will be stalled for some time.
I am not convinced that is the best way of handling it. It would be rather messy if we had our own legislation and discovered in a few years that what the EEC Commission proposed was different to a great extent. We would then have to amend our legislation and we would have the Deputy's party telling us we should consolidate legislation instead of bringing in amendments to existing legislation.
I do not think the Minister would find any opposition from these benches to legislation in new areas of consumer protection. Consolidation is one thing, but new forms of sales are on the increase and there is no adequate legal protection. Harmanisation difficulties would not be insuperable in the future if we proceeded on our own. I suggest we should proceed on our own since it appears that the EEC programme will not develop as rapidly as was once thought.