Vol. 496 No. 6
109 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial supports, if any, her Department has given to the Consumers Association of Ireland in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23940/98]
My Department has not provided financial support to the Consumers' Association of Ireland during the past 12 months. However, I am aware that the association has experienced difficulties this year following the ceasing of financial supports by the European Commission. When I met the association earlier this year I assured them that my Department would be pleased to work with them with a view to ensuring that their current difficulties with the Commission were not repeated in 1999 and I understand that the then Director of Consumer Affairs gave a similar assurance. In addition, my Department sought to assist the association in the current year by way of financial support for a relevant project to be undertaken by the CAI. I understand, however, that the association was not able to take up this offer, mainly because of time constraints and staff shortages.
I also wrote to Commissioner Bonino, who has responsibility for consumer matters, requesting her support for the restoration of financial support to the association. In her reply, she indicated that she would be prepared to re-examine the situation if her Directorate's budgetary situation so allowed and if no alternative solution could be found for funding the CAI this year. Such support is now unlikely given the late stage of the year. Since my meeting with the CAI and correspondence with the Commission, my Department and the Director of Consumer Affairs have remained in contact with the association with a view to further assisting as possible.
