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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 1979

Vol. 315 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consumer Information Act Orders.

33.

andMr. O'Toole asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the orders, if any, made or under consideration under the Consumer Information Act; the purpose of such orders; and if, in view of the experience in the United Kingdom under the Trade Descriptions Act, he will establish special machinery in consultation with consumer groups to give consideration to such orders.

No orders have yet been made under the Consumer Information Act, 1978.

On the question of consultative machinery, I would draw the attention of the Deputies to section 26 of the Act dealing with general provisions in relation to orders and especially to subsections (2) and (3) of that section. I am satisfied that these provisions incorporate an adequate framework for consultations.

Is the making of any orders being considered under the fairly extensive powers given in the Act?

Not at the moment.

Is the Act being enforced, and if so has anybody been prosecuted?

The Act is being enforced. However, the question of the making of orders is one of last resort. When the Deputy was Parliamentary Secretary, he said in the House on 3 May that he would ask the National Consumer Advisory Council to recommend any products on which they thought the making of orders would be appropriate. They have not made any such recommendations to me. Any orders made would not be initiated by the Government but might be at the direction or the request of groups vitally interested in the matter or by the Director of Consumer Affairs or the National Consumer Advisory Council.

Would the Minister consider asking the director specifically to consider whether orders should be made in relation to particular products? It has been the experience in Britain that though these powers have been in existence for a number of years not a single order has been made.

I will consider that.

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