Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 1997

Vol. 484 No. 3

Written Answers. - Consumer Affairs.

David Stanton

Ceist:

46 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the priorities, if any, she has regarding consumer affairs; the issues, if any, which are under consideration in this regard by her Department; the work, if any, which has been done in this regard since she took up office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21960/97]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

I am pleased to inform the House that the Government is committed to the advancement of consumers' rights and entitlements.

Already the Minister for State at my Department with responsibility for Labour, Trade and Consumer Affairs has secured the agreement of all sections of the drinks trade to implement a code of practice governing the marketing, promotion and sale of alcoholic drink, particularly alcopops, beers, ciders, coolers and spirit pre-mixers which can be particularly appealing to under-age drinkers. To ensure its successful implementation the Minister of State has appointed an independent arbitration panel to adjudicate on any complaints about breaches of the code. The code was launched by the Minister of State on 24 November and a copy has been placed in the Library. Providied the Amsterdam Treaty is approved by referendum, the Minister of State intends to convene a major forum to determine how the enhanced protections contained in the treaty can be translated into a rapid and tangible action programme which will benefit European consumers.

Work is now under way in my Department on the transposition into national law of the following EU directives which will add to existing consumer protections:

— Directive 97/4/EC which amends Directive 79/112 relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs.

— Directive 97/7/EC relating to the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts.

— Directive 96/74/EC relating to certain methods for the quantitative analysis of binary textile fibre mixtures.