Vol. 402 No. 5
102 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will initiate a departmental investigation into recent well publicised incidents of high pressure selling, through the post, where personalised advertising strongly conveyed the impression that the people targeted are a specially selected minority who are in a favoured position with regard to very lucrative draws; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I assume that the Deputy is referring in particular to a recent case in relation to the promotion of a time-share development. The Director of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trade who has a statutory function in the investigation of alleged misleading advertising has informed me that he received a number of complaints from members of the public who felt that they had been misled by the types of practices to which the Deputy refers. Following investigation of these complaints the director, in exercise of his statutory powers under the European Communities (Misleading Advertising) Regulations, 1988, requested the promoters to cease certain aspects of their advertising. As a result, the promoters have modified their advertising material.
The director is keeping this matter under review.
