Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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First of all, I welcome the focus on consumers this week. The Government is right to look both at short-term and, vitally, long-term solutions to this problem. One of the areas in which we have been very negligent is that we have not confronted the rip-off that many larger companies carry out on consumers by making it difficult for them to find best value. It is typically the older and less tech-savvy people who are the vulnerable ones being exploited by companies through these practices. Many of those companies are using sophisticated big data to upsell and play on consumers' weaknesses to try to improve their position.

I am calling for four simple measures that will make a huge difference to consumers. The first is that they should be informed of the renewal date in good time. That happens in motor insurance but it does not happen in mobile, television, broadband, financial contracts or utility services. We need to change that.

We also need to introduce a provision whereby a simple quick response, QR, code is on the bill that a person gets so that they can see not only their use pattern but also the billing charges thereon. They can then go to comparison sites and see exactly where they can get better value, given their position and pattern of consumption.

The third thing is that a code of practice need to be introduced by the regulators whereby there can be a frictionless response to consumers who want to change their contract. Now, that attempt to make a change is frustrated by an inability to make telephone contact and to get responses in a timely manner.

This is all with the purpose of wearing consumers down so that they do not pursue their entitlements.

Finally, I ask that the electricity companies activate the 700,000 smart meters that are in people's homes to allow them to use off-peak and renewable energy and so bring down their bills. All of these rules would be beneficial to consumers but to make them effective we need to ensure the regulators in each case have the power to adjudicate finally on any complaints by consumers that these new rules are not being applied.

The reality is that there is better value to be had but companies are putting barriers in the way of consumers. My colleague, Senator Garret Ahearn, did an exercise and found that he saved more than €2,000 by simply looking to different broadband, telephone, television, car insurance and health insurance providers. We should make it easy for people to do that and make those comparisons. At times it is almost impossible. For example it is almost impossible for an ordinary consumer to compare their health insurance with what might be available elsewhere. With simple QR codes and sophisticated comparison sites that could be possible for consumers.

I realise that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is not the responsible Minister. I will take it up with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, who I think will be in the House later in the day. I would like to convey my strong view that this is an opportunity to make big changes for the long-term benefit of consumers.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Bruton for raising this important issue. I agree with what he has said. The recent rises in prices are driven by a number of factors and it is vital that all drivers of price increases are addressed. We have to make sure that we have, at least, transparent and competitive markets. The first point he made about consumers being informed of the renewal date is the most sensible thing I have heard in a long time because what happens is that people agree a deal with a service provider for 12 months but unfortunately that date can expire without them being informed. We are, as he said, always informed in regard to car insurance renewal so that is a very practical suggestion. Information is key, especially for consumers who too often are presented with details about prices and offerings that make it too difficult for them to compare and ensure they are getting the right service or product offering at the best price.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has broad responsibilities for the protection of consumers' rights and ensuring competition. Like everybody in the House, the Minister of State for trade promotion, digital and company regulations, Deputy Troy, and I have a deep interest in all initiatives which are ultimately to the benefit of consumers. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, which falls under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, has a specific role under legislation to provide personal finance information and education to consumers, in order to promote financial resilience and support overall financial well-being. The CCPC uses its knowledge, skills and statutory powers to promote competition and enhance consumer welfare. To this end the CCPC has developed, maintained and actively promotes a suite of online comparison tools for customers across a range of financial products including current accounts, regular savings accounts, mortgages and credit cards. Another feature of the CCPC's money tools is the various calculators - the mortgage calculator, the extra mortgage payments calculator, the spending calculator and the budget planner. By using these calculators, consumers can see how much money they could potentially save. The CCPC also offers a guide on how to switch gas and electricity providers. The money tools facility was created to allow consumers to compare quickly and easily features across all of the major financial providers. All of its comparison facilities and consumer information are independently provided to help consumers to find the options that best suit their needs.

Clearly, the current levels of inflation are a cause for concern. The Government has already taken action, and will take more actions, to assist people. I recognise that some bills, such as energy bills, are increasing regardless of what provider a customer is with. Of course expanding and protecting consumer rights is also important. I understand that the Tánaiste intends to go to the Government shortly to publish a consumer rights Bill, which will be the biggest reform of consumer rights legislation in more than 40 years. The Bill will address gaps in existing legislation, consolidate the legislation, make consumer law clearer for traders and consumers and introduce new provisions on contracts for the sale of goods and contracts for the supply of digital content and digital services. For example, downloads and streaming will be subject to similar laws as apply to digital content in physical form. The proposed Bill will also improve the enforcement of consumer rights law and increase the enforcement powers of the CCPC. The debate on this legislation, when introduced, might be a great opportunity to have further discussion on the four points the Deputy raised: the need to be informed of the renewal date, to include a QR code on each bill, for regulators to introduce a code of practice and - the Deputy made a valid point in regard to electricity - to activate smart meters so that people can use electricity at off-peak times. All of these sensible proposals should be taken on board.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State's positive response. As politicians, we sometimes recognise things that need to change but our good intentions get caught up in the tangled affairs of bringing new legislation forward. I would like to see some of these small and simple changes prioritised and pressure put on the drafting of legislation to bring forward amendments. Those amendments need to commence preparation today if a Bill is to be passed in the House over the next four or five months. That is the reality. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to convey to the Minister of State, Deputy Troy, a request that he have his officials start drafting amendments now, so that we can consider how this could be done. I recognise the CCPC's work but the reality is that it offers consumers an umbrella in the midst of a storm when we all know the umbrella will double in on itself unless the opportunity is there, with these companies, to facilitate the changes that are to be made. I also recognise that updating our consumer law to include the digital world is welcome. There are features that have emerged from the digital power of companies that we have not rectified. The reality is that fewer and fewer of these large companies have any front-facing, customer-facing staff who can be approached to make these changes. They operate remote and hidden systems designed to suck in customers but then lock them in. That is not a market operating fairly. My request to the Minister of State is not only to offer support for the principle here, but also to seek an instruction that amendments should now be drafted in order to make this a reality when we come to debate the substance in a couple of months.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. The comment he has made about being prepared represents a sensible approach. It will be welcome when this debate is being held in the Dáil. As we all know, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities provides a list of electricity and gas providers with some helpful hints and tips on switching. However, I am conscious that as Deputy Bruton mentioned in his opening statement, many older people are not tech-savvy, are not online and have not grown up in that environment, and therefore would find it impossible to consider switching. We find many people stay with the same provider all their lives and do not switch. That is an area on which there needs to be a special focus. The point the Deputy makes on being informed of a renewal date is important. We know that opting to go paperless can save 10% off electricity bills, but then the date for renewal might fall in September or October and the consumer might not realise this until the bill comes in November or December. I will take up all the issues with the Minister of State, Deputy Troy.