Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 5

Written Answers. - Garda Investigations.

Enda Kenny

Question:

386 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 303 of 5 February 2002, he has contacted the publication concerned; if he has advised the legal advisers to this publication that he is concerned in respect of his responsibilities towards the consumer that pressure should not be applied to business interests here in respect of liabilities for advertisements either entered incorrectly, nor approved, nor authorised; his views on the extent of publications and contact between the publishers of the guide in question and Irish business interests; if he will continue to monitor this situation carefully; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5622/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 303 of 5 February 2002, I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda bureau of fraud investigation has carried out investigations into this publication and has detected that no breaches of the criminal law have taken place in respect of the matters being raised by the Deputy. These inquiries have been made with the assistance of Interpol and the Spanish authorities.

My functions as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform do not, therefore, extend any further on this matter and the consumer protection issues now being raised by the Deputy are now more appropriately addressed to the European Consumer Centre in Dublin. I understand that representatives at the centre, who can be contacted at telephone No. 01-8090600, are already in the process of considering complaints being made against the publication in question.