asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will consider initiating legislation to update the Sale of Goods Act, 1893.
9.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Goods Act.
8.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is now in a position to update his answer of the 14th March, 1974, in relation to the UK Unsolicited Goods and Services Act, 1931.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.
The report of the National Consumer Advisory Council, recently presented to me and published, contains recommendations on the legislation which it considers desirable in order to update the Sale of Goods Act, 1893. It makes recommendations also concerning unsolicited goods and services.
I propose to introduce three or four Bills within the next two years to protect the consumer. I hope to circulate the first of these before the Summer Recess. The second Bill to be introduced as shortly as possible thereafter will include any necessary revisions in the Sale of Goods Act, 1893, and measures to discourage the growth of the practice of unsolicited goods and services.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary indicate what sphere of the Sale of Goods Act it is proposed to cover in the Bill which he says will be circulated before the Summer Recess?
It will involve an updating of the Sale of Goods Act, 1893. but I cannot say what other Statutes will be involved. It would be wise to await presentation of the Bill when the Deputy, as well as everybody else, will be aware of what proposals are involved and of what enactments are to be repealed.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary give us any indication of what will be contained in the number of Bills to which he refers?
The first will be a trade descriptions Bill. I cannot give the Deputy details of the subject matter of each of the Bills as this question relates particularly to the Sale of Goods Act. Apart from the first Bill, the others will relate to other aspects of the report of the Consumer Advisory Council.
I am not attempting to catch out the Parliamentary Secretary but I should like him to tell us whether the initial legislation will provide for a remedy by a purchaser against the manufacturer as well as against the vendor of goods found to be defective? The Parliamentary Secretary may be aware that under the Sale of Goods Act the purchaser's immediate remedy is against the vendor.
I would prefer not to indicate the contents of the Bill until it is read.
The Parliamentary Secretary would appear to have access to the inner sanctums of the Department.