Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Consumer Protection Act 2007, which provides for the establishment of the National Consumer Agency on a statutory basis, was recently signed into law. Regulations are being finalised to appoint 1 May 2007 as the establishment day for the agency. Once formally established, the NCA will have specific statutory functions in areas such as enforcement and information. These will include promoting and conducting public awareness and information campaigns for the purpose of educating and advising consumers and for enforcing consumer protection law, including the prosecution of summary offences by traders.

I advise the Deputy that until the new agency is formally established, the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs continues to carry out important functions in enforcing consumer law. In this regard I am advised that the office has taken nine prosecutions so far this year against traders for breaches of various areas of consumer protection law, including product pricing, price display, misleading pricing, car clocking and food labelling. I understand the office has a further ten prosecutions pending.

In the area of price surveys, the ODCA conducts a monthly product pricing survey covering multiples, symbol groups and a variety of other retailers. I understand the office also conducted a specific survey earlier this year on the practices of certain traders who dual price in both euro and sterling.

I am satisfied the expanded remit prescribed for the NCA in the Consumer Protection Act 2007 will allow the agency to continue to build upon the important work of the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs but also to be a forceful champion of the consumer's case, including in those areas referred to in the Deputy's question.

See this speech in context