Vol. 415 No. 8
172 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has considered any proposal for protecting consumers from certain unfair practices in respect of new sales techniques particularly in the area of distance selling through mail order or other techniques; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
A draft Commission proposal for an EC Council Directive to protect consumers in respect of distance selling techniques was promulgated in July 1991. The proposal seeks to control selling techniques such as mail order and shopping by television, teletext and home computer.
My Department are currently consulting with interested bodies including the Director of Consumer Affairs about the contents of the proposal.
I would point out that section 47 of the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, 1980, provides that under certain conditions the recipient of unsolicited goods may retain the goods as though they were an "unconditional gift". This no doubt is of benefit to consumers.
