David Stanton
Question:166 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the actions taken or planned by her in relation to advertising by airlines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23288/01]
Written Answers. - Airline Advertising.
Consumers have the right to reliable transparent information about airfares before they buy tickets. In that connection, at the end of last year, and in response to an investigation by the Director of Consumer Affairs, I made an order concerning advertisements for airfares. The order, which came into force on 1 March 2001, entitles air travellers to comprehensive information as regards the full cost and availability of the fare on offer. The Director of Consumer Affairs is responsible for enforcement of the order.
On the question of airline advertising in the wider sense, the advertising industry has its own self-regulatory body, the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland – ASAI. The ASAI has a code of practice of advertising standards, which provides that an advertisement must be legal, decent, honest and truthful, and should be pre pared with a sense of responsibility to consumers and to society. The ASAI complaints committee considers and deals with complaints from the public by reference to the code of practice.
The Consumer Information Act, 1978, is enforced by the Director of Consumer Affairs. Under that Act, it is forbidden to publish any advertisement which is false or misleading.