Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The consumer strategy group launched its new website, www.irishconsumer.ie, earlier this month. The group has also announced its public consultation on consumer issues and invited individual consumers, representative organisations, businesses and any other interested parties to contact it with views and submissions by 9 July next. The group has produced a consultation paper, Components of Consumer Policy, which should assist those wishing to make a submission. The group is focusing on the key principles guiding the consumer agenda, namely, access, safeguards, advice and support, redress, consumer power, business interest and consumers.

The group proposes to obtain detailed research on consumer attitudes via focus groups and face-to-face interviews to ensure that all issues of concern are identified. The results of this research together with the responses to the public consultation will form the foundations for the group's work. The group is due to produce a final report by the end of 2004 and it may also produce such interim reports to me as it considers appropriate. I encourage all interested parties to make a submission to the group and thereby lay the foundation for a strong national consumer policy, which will further empower consumers and enhance Irish business competitiveness.

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