asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether Ireland was represented at the first meeting of the OECD committee on consumer policy on 12-14 May last; whether he will make a statement on the activities of this committee; whether Ireland is participating in a comparative survey on consumer policy in member countries; and whether Ireland is represented on the two working parties established by this committee.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - OECD Consumer Policy.
31.
This country was not represented at this meeting and consequently is not represented on the two working parties established at the meeting to investigate selected areas of interest. The committee, which is responsible for the study of questions relating to the information and protection of consumers, decided to prepare a comparative survey on consumer policy in member countries and this country will co-operate in the preparation of this survey.
I did not catch the beginning of the Minister's reply. We are not represented on the working parties but we were at this meeting?
No. The country was not represented at this meeting and consequently is not represented on the two working parties established at the meeting to investigate selective areas of interest.
Can the Minister say how it happened that we were not represented at a meeting of such importance on a matter about which the Government profess to be concerned?
Surely this is absolutely essential to our interests?
They have too many other meetings.
There are so many other meetings——
Hear, hear.
——concerning us in relation to the overall position, that this was the reason why this country was not represented at that meeting.
Does the Minister not agree that this was a most extraordinary oversight and that this is a matter of great importance on which we have a lot to learn from other countries? Surely it is vital that we should be represented at meetings of this kind? Will the Minister ensure that, in future, we are represented at such meetings and, in the meantime, will he take steps to ensure that we are represented on these working parties?
We will be working in close co-operation with those working parties. The matters will be discussed on the basis of papers submitted by countries with special interests and we will gain the benefit of the recommendations arising from those papers, having co-operated with the committees that have been set up.
Is the Minister saying that we will submit a paper and get the published report which we can buy in any event from the OECD but that we will not participate in this work and will learn nothing from the process of working with other countries, and the Minister does not care about this?
The Minister does care.
This is a queer way of showing it.
Will the Minister tell us why no one was present at this meeting?
Question No. 32.
Were we invited to attend the meeting?
I am calling question No. 32.
Can the Minister tell us what exactly was happening here that prevented us sending representatives to that meeting on the dates mentioned?
Nothing was happening here to prevent us.
Why did we not send somebody?
Is the Minister saying that in the brief given to him there is not even a reply to the question as to whether we were invited? That seems rather careless briefing when I asked were we represented.
Whether we were invited is not spelled out specifically. A decision was made by my Department. It was not looked upon as necessary that my Department be specifically represented on it.
A declaration of disinterest in this subject.
Not at all.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister must be detained by the Attorney General.