Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Martin, and his team of senior officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I compliment them on bringing this comprehensive Bill before the House. The Minister established the interim national consumer agency in 2005 in response to recommendations in the report of the Consumer Strategy Group. This interim arrangement was worthwhile because it got the process moving. The agency is already a well established body and I commend it on its current initiatives.

The Consumers Association of Ireland, a voluntary organisation whose chief executive is Mr. Dermot Jewell, was in place before the establishment of the national consumer agency. This organisation was funded by the Department and I assume it will continue to receive some level of support.