The Office of the Attorney General previously advised that legislation to deregulate the sale of ready-made reading glasses was urgently required to avoid a potential liability in damages should litigation by the European Commission be instigated, as was proposed, and prove successful. My Department was subsequently advised, through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, that the Commission had decided to close the case. It is assumed that the Commission took this decision on the basis of our proposal to deregulate. However, under the existing legislation, the potential for action to be taken by private citizens in the Irish courts remains. In fact, a case was heard by the High Court in December 2002 and my Department is currently awaiting judgment on it.