asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make regulations whereby consumers may claim damages against firms who break EEC competition rules.
Ceisteanna——Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Competition Rules.
159.
The EEC competition rules provide for the imposition of fines on firms who infringe them but they make no provision for compensation for consumers who may suffer as a result of infringements. It would be a matter for a consumer who felt he had suffered injury as a result of a breach of the competition rules to seek redress under the normal processes of law and I do not think it necessary to seek power to make special regulations in that regard.
In view of the fact that the Government accepted the Private Member's Motion put down yesterday in relation to civil actions, can we assume now that in the event of an individual making a claim against the EEC in this regard the State will pay the cost?
I regret that I am unfamiliar with the terms of the motion accepted yesterday. With respect to the Deputy, I could not give any such undertaking.
The House spent three hours on it.