Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 16 together.

Section 85 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 provides that an authorised officer of the National Consumer Agency who has reasonable grounds for believing a person is committing, or has committed, a relevant offence may serve, personally or by post, a notice, popularly known as an on-the-spot fine, for an offence or offences relating to price display and product pricing.

The fixed payment provision is an innovative option which expands the suite of enforcement functions at the National Consumer Agency's disposal and should ensure a greater compliance with consumer protection law. Section 85(3) of the Act provides that the fixed payment notice shall be in the prescribed form, and section 2 provides that "prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister. The agency is currently preparing the template for the fixed payment notice and expects to be in a position to submit it to the Minister in the near future. The necessary regulations will be made in consultation with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel as soon as possible thereafter.

With regard to awareness raising, section 8 of the Act places a specific obligation on the agency to promote public awareness and conduct public information campaigns for the purpose of educating and advising consumers on consumer protection and welfare. Even prior to its establishment as a statutory entity, the National Consumer Agency conducted a number of high-profile campaigns to raise awareness of consumers' rights, including its shoppers' rights card and Know your Rights campaigns. Given the NCA's commitment in this area and its specific statutory mandate, I am confident that raising awareness of consumers' rights will continue to be a focus of the agency's activities in the future.

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