asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the current number and grades of public service staff in the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs and the budget allocation for 1979 for that office.
Written Answers. - Director of Consumer Affairs.
314.
In addition to the director there are three general service staff in the office. These are an assistant principal, an executive officer and a clerical assistant. He has also available to him the general services of the Department. Proposals for additional staff are under consideration.
For budgetary purposes all the activities of the office of the director are subsumed in the Department's overall financial allocations under the appropriate headings.
315.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy, if he will make a statement on the activities of the Director of Consumer Affairs since he assumed office.
The Director of Consumer Affairs was appointed under the Consumer Information Act, 1978, and took up duty on 12 February, 1979.
The director is required under section 9 (12) of the Act to make an annual report to the Minister in relation to the performance of his functions. The first such report is expected to be published in the first half of 1980.
The Deputy, may, however, be already aware that the director issued a press release on 22 October 1979 which outlined, among other things, the type of consumer complaints being referred to him for investigation.
Pending the presentation and publication of the annual report, as required by statute, I do not think that it would be appropriate for me to comment on the activities to date of the Office of Director of Consumer Affairs.