Consumer Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2019

Tuesday, 17 December 2019

Ceisteanna (307)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

307. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the position in the EU legislative process with regard to proposals for the European Commission new deal for consumers (details supplied); the proposals regarding a collective redress tool that will require member states to change national laws to make it possible for a qualified entity such as a consumer organisation to seek redress such as compensation, replacement or repair on behalf of a group of consumers that have been harmed by an illegal commercial practice; and if she has consulted consumer advocacy groups here on the proposals. [53282/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The “New Deal for Consumers” was launched by the Commission on the 11th April 2018 and aims to facilitate coordination and effective action from national consumer authorities at EU level and reinforce public enforcement action and better protection of consumer rights.  The “New Deal for Consumers” package is composed of proposals for two new draft Directives, one of which is the Representative Actions Directive.

This proposal aims to improve tools for stopping illegal practices and facilitating redress for consumers where many of them are victims of the same infringement of their rights, in a mass harm situation committed by traders.  The Department carried out a public consultation on the proposed Directive in May 2018.

A general agreement on this Directive has now been reached and on the 28th November 2019 the Competitiveness Council approved the general approach and a mandate to allow for negotiations with the European Parliament to commence. It is envisaged that political agreement on this draft Directive will be reached in the first half of 2020.