Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to implement the commitment in the programme for Government to ensure that consumer codes of conduct are published by businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30936/08]

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The Consumer Protection Act 2007, which commenced in May last year, empowers the National Consumer Agency to prepare and publish guidelines to traders regarding issues of consumer welfare and protection and matters related to commercial practices. The Act also empowers the agency to review or approve codes of practice submitted to it by traders or by their trade associations where the agency is satisfied that the code of practice protects consumer interests.

The agency is currently giving priority to producing guidelines for business in a number of areas. In early September it published a consultation document on guidelines for the retail sector relating to the advertising of price discounts and other associated matters. The guidelines are intended to facilitate the retail sector in complying with the requirements of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 in respect of a variety of misleading practices. When finalised, the guidelines will help traders to appreciate better their obligations to provide unambiguous information to consumers, to give clarity on certain aspects of the Act and to provide a basis for a fairer and more evenly balanced approach towards advertising throughout the sector. The agency is also close to finalising guidelines for the health and fitness sector, following a consultation exercise with key stakeholders.

The agency has also recently developed a code of practice with the Irish Home Builders Association which is to be followed by developers in their dealings in the development, interim management and sale of multi-unit development properties. The code, which came into effect at the start of this month, sets out a series of actions aimed to enhance the good operation of the multi-unit dwelling sector and thereby help to ensure that developers and consumers share an understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities in relation to multi-unit developments. The code includes specific provisions in respect of dispute resolution and redress and urges unit owners and developers to use alternative out of court mechanisms for resolving disputes.

I welcome the agency's initiatives in these areas and am confident that the production of guidelines in important sectors of the economy such as the retail and health and fitness sectors will help in the development of a strong consumer culture in those sectors. I support the agency's strategy of engaging constructively with businesses through initiatives such as agency guidelines and consumer codes of practice which will be of benefit not only to consumers but also to the businesses themselves and the economy as a whole.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Those specific commitments were given in the programme for Government and 15 months later we are still at the stage of evaluation and discussion. This is the fourth time I have raised this question this year — I raised it in February, April, June and now September. When will we actually see this code of conduct? When will the Government treat consumers with the seriousness they deserve? Has there been any discussion with the National Consumer Agency about the content of proposed conduct for the two sectors, retail and health and fitness? For instance, will the code of conduct for the retail sector include a commitment to pass on to consumers savings made by the retailers arising from the variation in currency values? We all know that one of the biggest rip-offs faced by the Irish consumer over the past year has been the failure of major multiples to pass on the benefits of the increase in value of the euro against sterling and the dollar. We all know there are serious concerns about the delays in passing on reductions in the price of oil.

Is the Minister of State aware that many consumers are concerned about gift tokens that are time limited? When a person buys a gift token the store gets the value of the token but the token expires if it is not used within a specific period. Can this issue be accommodated? If a person pays his or her €100 I do not believe a time limit should be imposed and if it is it should certainly be for longer than six months. I hope that matter will be considered in the code of conduct.

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I shall correct the Deputy. It is actually the fifth time he has put a question on the matter.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I am a right pest.

Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Regarding the codes of practice, the first one was published on 1 September and relates to developers. There are ongoing discussions at present in respect of the retail sector. We expect the code concering the health and fitness sector to be published shortly.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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I welcome that.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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If the Deputy buys me a gift voucher I will not let it expire.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That concludes ordinary questions in the House today. We move to Private Notice Questions that have been allowed by the Ceann Comhairle.