Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 15:

In page 51, before section 61, but in Part 3, to insert the following new section:

"CHAPTER 5

Price Surveys

"61.—The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 is amended in Article 3 of Part 21 of Schedule 1 by the insertion of the following after section 7:

"7A.—(1) The Director may, in the interests of better informing consumers, conduct price surveys in order to—

(a) make consumers aware of price discrepancies,

(b) assess competitiveness or other practices under sections 4 and 5 of the Competition Act 2002, or

(c) for such other reason as the Director may, from time to time, deem necessary.

(2) The Director shall not be limited by national or currency boundaries in carrying out a price survey referred to in subsection (1).

(3) The Director shall be empowered to—

(a) (i) publish or part-publish all or any part of information,

(ii) create an electronic database containing data, gathered by him or her under this section, and

(b) make any electronic database created under paragraph (a)(ii) publicly available on-line.

7B.—The Director may compile and publish codes of conduct for service providers and retailers on such issues as he or she may, from time to time, deem appropriate, including the passing on of costs such as exchange rate movements.

7C.—(1) The Director may establish the 'Good Practice Provider Quality Mark'.

(2) The Good Practice Provider Quality Mark shall be awarded to suppliers of goods and services who agree to be bound by a code of practice compiled and published under section 7B.".".

This is basic to what we are about in the Bill, that the director would have power to conduct price surveys. I would see this measure as a sine qua non for legislation of this kind. I look forwarding to hearing the Minister's views on the matter, but it is spelt out there and we believe in it.