One of the primary functions of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (‘CCPC’) is to enforce consumer protection law in Ireland. For cross border consumer protection issues, the CCPC is part of the European Consumer Protection Co-operation (CPC) Network, which is comprised of national authorities responsible for enforcing EU consumer protection laws. This network protects consumers when conducting transactions across national borders and, allows consumer protection agencies to co-operate to resolve particular consumer issues. The CPC Network is central to addressing this matter, which involved the purchase by consumers of properties in France. These properties were developed, marketed, sold and managed by French traders under a French ‘Residence de Tourisme’ scheme devised by the French Government to provide tourist accommodation in France. Under the European CPC network, the appropriate authorities to conduct an investigation in relation to this matter are the French consumer protection authorities – Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (‘DGCCRF’).
The CCPC has informed my Department that they engaged with the DGCCRF with respect to the issues highlighted by Irish property purchasers. The CCPC received complaints from Irish property purchasers and provided an initial preliminary assessment to the DGCCRF for over 150 complainants. Following consultation with the DGCCRF, the CCPC collated and transferred to the DGCCRF the transactional documentation of over 150 Irish property purchasers. The CCPC has and continues to provide significant time and resources to this matter and to supporting the DGCCRF investigation. In addition, throughout the period of engagement with the DGCCRF, whenever issues have been raised by Irish property purchasers or where they have requested the CCPC to forward on additional documentation to DGCCRF in relation to any legal matters, the CCPC has done so and taken whatever additional steps requested by DGCCRF.
The DGCCRF are investigating the issues that were referred to the CCPC by the individuals involved. The primary focus of the CCPC is to continue to support the DGCCRF investigation through providing any assistance or information requested by the DGCCRF. The CCPC considers this matter as a high priority issue and one which they have dedicated considerable resources to.
