David Norris (Independent)

I am glad this Bill does not remain in the land of dither in that it actually produces penalties. Some of the penalties are fairly significant but again we must rely on the courts to implement them. There is a case in the Minister's constituency about which I cannot say too much because I do not believe the sentence has been passed. It concerns Ford dealerships and price rigging. That is very anti-consumer. There has been a conviction in the case but the sentence has not been passed.

The Minister referred to these quiz games, prizes or whatever. They are in every bloody newspaper nowadays. One scratches a card and wins a prize. These prizes are not worth a damn but they gull one into making a telephone call. People make money out of the enormous number of telephone calls made. Consumers are entitled go be protected against this because the language used is totally inflated. I have done research in this regard. I wasted my unfortunate secretary's time, because I would not waste my own, getting her to dial up. It was very unfair of me. One is kept waiting and waiting. It is dreadful the way this is done. The prizes are a mirage.

People also receive letters congratulating them and, in tiny letters, they are told they are in a draw to win €500,000. The letter will contain a certificate, a gold key or sometimes one has to scratch a card, but one wins sweet damn all. These games are unfair.

Worse still is something the Minister mentioned, namely, these unscrupulous, heartless people who have quack remedies and who claim they are able to cure diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cancer. That really should be stamped out. I believe this is considered by legislation under the Department of Health and Children as well. There has been a good initiative in regard to the alleged qualifications of these people, their right to practice and so forth and it covers quacks.

Does the Minister believe a sufficient amount has been drawn into this Bill because the power is scattered around a number of different agencies and ministries, including, for example, ComReg, the telecommunications regulator? I will say a little about the telephone situation which is appalling. Eircom is an absolute disaster. I refer also to the financial regulator which has powers in this area. I am glad pyramid schemes are being addressed. They are also cruel because there is absolutely no way they can work without the majority of people engaged in them losing very heavily. Very often they operate in housing estates of the poorer levels of society. While some people will make money, a great number will be defrauded. They join the schemes because they are gulled into thinking they will make money.

Will this legislation address the question of moneylenders, which has never been addressed satisfactorily, as it ought to be. While scandalous rates of interest are being charged, people who go to moneylenders simply do not know this is the case. Allied to this is the credit card scam operated by the banks. While on the subject of banks, I wish to make two points. Everyone knows they are crooks who have been dipping their hands in our pockets. They are also liars who lied about the late Mr. Haughey, thus causing severe disruption to the career of a good journalist who wrote an article to the effect that AIB was owed £1 million by Mr. Haughey. The bank flatly denied this, which was an outrage. However, it got away with it.

The Minister should also examine the issue of equity releases. Elderly people, who are drawn into flogging off part of their interest in their houses, do not realise it could be highly disadvantageous to them. For example, such people must secure permission from the relevant bank to modify their houses to install something like a chair lift.

Members should also consider the manner in which such advertisements are couched. They portray individuals who had never envisaged they could spend their declining years on the island of Barbados, or similar tripe, and this is unfair. Moreover, Members should consider the manner in which advertisements for many financial institutions include warnings that they are subject to this, that and the other. However, it is all muttered quickly and one cannot hear it. How are the advertising authorities protecting the consumer?

I note my colleague, Senator O'Toole, has entered the Chamber. How much time remains?