Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date with regard to the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the consumer strategy group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31600/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I advised the House in my reply to Question No. 205 of 28 September, the consumer strategy group's report, Make Consumers Count, was published on 18 May 2005. The Government has already approved the report's core recommendation that a new statutory body, the national consumer agency, be established to advocate on behalf of consumers. Given that this will require primary legislation, a board has been appointed to act in an interim capacity until the new agency is established on a statutory footing. The Deputy will be aware that since its appointment the interim board has been active in terms of articulating the consumer's case on issues such as the groceries order. In addition to being a forceful advocate on behalf of the consumer, the interim board, as part of its terms of reference, will have a key role in preparing the way for the fully operational agency itself.

The other significant recommendation in the consumer strategy group report related to the abolition of the groceries order. The Deputy will be aware that following the publication of the report my Department embarked upon a public consultation process on the future of the order. In excess of 550 submissions were received in the course of the consultation process.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Will we deal with QuestionNo. 107 on the groceries order?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No, this is a recommendation of the consumer strategy group. I will deal with whatever issues the Deputy wishes me to deal with.

Those submissions have been examined and I met with various groups in the last month to discuss the groceries order. I intend to bring a report to Government detailing proposals in relation to the future of the order shortly.

In addition to the above mentioned recommendations, I have accepted a number of the consumer strategy group's recommendations relating to my Department, some of which have already been implemented. For example, the fines for breaching consumer protection laws have recently been significantly increased. The fundamental review of the existing code of consumer protection law, as recommended by the consumer strategy group, is already under way and additional resources have been dedicated by my Department to this task.

The consumer strategy group report contains more than 30 separate recommendations involving a variety of different Departments and agencies whose activities directly impact upon the interests of consumers. The scope and breadth of the recommendations required a co-ordinated response from Government. For that reason a high level interdepartmental committee was established to prepare a detailed plan for the implementation of the recommendations. The report of the high level committee is expected to be submitted to Government shortly.

I am confident the consumer strategy group's report offers the way forward in developing a robust and effective national consumer policy. Considerable progress has been made in implementing the report in the short time since its publication. I am anxious that progress continue to be made in this regard and I am confident that in conjunction with the interim board of the national consumer agency we will continue to make progress to the benefit of consumers.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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God bless word processors. The reply is identical to the reply given the last time this question was submitted, in September. The Minister tells us again that the scope and breadth of the recommendations require a co-ordinated response from Government. God forbid there might be a joined-up response from Government.

What progress has been made in establishing the high level interdepartmental committee? How many meetings has that committee had? Has it submitted the report to Government that was promised "shortly" in September?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The work of the committee is virtually complete. We are preparing a memorandum for Government.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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How many meetings has it held?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not know. That is not relevant because the report is complete. When it involves other agencies and Departments it is necessary to request consideration of and commitments on the various recommendations from outside my Department.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I ask because the phrase "requiring interdepartmental committees to co-ordinate" normally means long-fingering something. I am heartened to hear the committee's work is complete or virtually so.

Has the high level committee submitted its report to Government and when will the House have sight of the implementation procedures that will be agreed?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It will be submitted to Government shortly. The memorandum is in preparation.