Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Lawless and Quinlivan for their contributions and for their parties' support for the contents of this Bill. I will address the concerns they have expressed to the best of my ability. I want to repeat that the offshore hallmarking provision is not an obligatory one - it merely allows the Irish Assay Office, if it ever chooses to do so, to apply to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for approval. As I noted at the start of this debate, my understanding is that such offshore marking is not currently required and that the Irish Assay Office does not intend to engage in such activity in the near future. I assure the House that the same standards will continue to apply to Irish hallmarked articles. The Deputies have suggested that they might introduce amendments to this Bill at a later stage. I am advised that the Minister is willing to examine such amendments in a constructive manner, as long as they do not undermine the current system of hallmarking in Ireland or result in a reduction in the level of consumer protection provided for under the current legislative framework.

I want to respond to the points the Deputies made about the perceived lack of consultation. This Bill has been in gestation for a long time. It was part of the previous Government's legislative programme. Between 2012 and 2013, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation consulted all the relevant stakeholders, including the Craft Council of Ireland, jewellery producers and retailers and the Irish Assay Office, on the proposal to amend the Hallmarking Act 1981. I assure the House that there is no question about the openness of the Minister to having further consultations that people might require and to responding to any concerns that might arise in advance of Committee Stage. I thank Deputies Lawless and Quinlivan again for contributing to this informative and useful debate. As I have indicated, the Minister is looking forward to working with Deputies during the Committee and Report Stage debates on this Bill and to considering any amendments that might be proposed.

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