asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the number of prosecutions initiated by his Department against shops or other enterprises in breach of S.I. No. 43 of 1973 in each of the past two years; the number of convictions obtained; the number of his Department's inspectors assigned to this work; and if he is satisfied that the statutory instrument concerned is being widely observed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Breaches of Statutory Instrument.
4.
The Statutory Instrument referred to gave effect to EEC Council Directive No. 71/307. This directive provides that textile products shall be labelled in a uniform way in countries of the European Community. The regulations giving effect to the directive came into operation in this country on 13 February 1975. Enforcement is the responsibility of my Department. It has not been necessary to initiate prosecutions for breach of the regulations as the circumstances of those cases where alleged breaches of the regulations were investigated were such as not to warrant prosecution.
Enforcement of the regulations is undertaken along with their other duties by those officers of my Department engaged on general inspection duties. There are 50 such inspectors whose function it is to carry out investigations at business premises and elsewhere in relation to a wide range of consumer interests.