Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

The Minister, while telling us what will happen, is not telling us when she will introduce the change. When will she, as the Minister responsible, insist that the fines increase from €127 to at least €3,000? It is not good enough to say that the recommendation is to increase the limit in the small claims court. That comes after due consideration by the Director of Consumer Affairs and her 60 members of staff. It is not just a figure plucked from the air but is a real recommendation to the Minister. What is she going to do about it? At the moment she appears to be doing nothing other than talking about it.

Will the Minister investigate the other issue raised in the report of the consumers' association, namely, unexplained price differences? The Minister referred to them recently when she spoke about the difference in prices in some countries as opposed to those in Ireland and said there is an unaccountable difference between them. What is she doing to make the companies involved accountable? I put it to her that if she buys a computer or camera in the United States, she pays a dollar price which is far less than the euro price. What is she going to do about that?

What is the Minister going to do about mobile phone charges? The consumer is being ripped off compared with mobile phone charges in the United States where they are significantly less than here. What is the Minister doing about it or what action will she take?

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