Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 12 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 1

Written Answers. - Consumer Protection.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

22 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the progress to date of the measures to protect consumers announced by the Minister of State on 27 June 2000. [21573/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. T. Kitt)

In my reply to Question No. 35 from Deputy Rabbitte, I conveyed the information received from the Director of Consumer Affairs concerning progress on enforcement to date of one of the consumer protection measures, the order in relation to the freezing of drink prices.

I, therefore, propose to confine my reply to the Deputy to progress on the other consumer protection measure, the prices awareness campaign. The Director of Consumer Affairs has to date taken two initiatives in this regard. The first related to petrol, with the survey of fuel prices which was carried out by her office in the period 31 July to 3 August last. While this survey was limited in scope, it did enable the director to draw a number of conclusions, in particular that there was potential for significant savings in motoring costs. In a press release on 13 August, she drew attention to the significant differences and urged motorists to note the prices charged by filling stations and to frequent those which charged lower prices. The director plans to carry out a further petrol survey in November. The second initiative related to a survey which the director commissioned the Consumers' Association of Ireland to carry out in relation to the prices of 30 popular products in major supermarkets and other stores. The first survey was carried out in September and showed that in relation to the major supermarkets, there was very little price difference. The director plans to have three further surveys carried out up to, and including, December with attendant publicity.