Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Bill is technical in nature. However, hallmarking is a very important process and it has been very interesting to learn more about it. Hallmarking is one of the oldest forms of consumer protection, and has existed in Ireland since 1637. As we know, the current laws on hallmarking require all goods of gold, silver and platinum to bear a defined distinct mark, a pressed stamp on a piece of jewellery, or a hallmark, before they can be legally offered for sale.

The Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016proposes amendments to the Hallmarking Act 1981 that will give effect to three main proposals. The first is to add palladium, alongside gold, silver and platinum, as a precious metal that comes under the State’s hallmarking regime. The proposal to add palladium to the State’s hallmarking regime reflects the increasing popularity of that metal in domestic and international markets. The second proposal is to enable the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin, which oversees the Assay Office in Dublin, to open assay offices outside the State where articles can be assayed by the company and have Irish hallmarks applied to them. The company is also to have power to enter into agreements with certain other offshore assay offices allowing them to assay articles and strike Irish hallmarks on them on the company’s behalf. My colleague, Deputy Quinlivan, visited the Assay Office in Dublin Castle and was highly impressed with its set-up and with the expertise of its staff. He told me it is a very impressive, effective organisation staffed by people who have a deep desire to ensure customers are protected and Irish jewellery retains its very high reputation for quality. The third consequence of the Bill is to create new offences of applying forged hallmarks and of selling articles that bear them. This is an important layer of protection for those in this industry.

Sinn Féin welcomes the Bill as it will bring Ireland into line with other countries and give assurance to buyers of the quality of Irish-made palladium jewellery. Most jewellery representative groups were happy with the provisions of the Bill while just one group wanted weight exemptions included. After our own research and consultation with representative bodies, we concluded that no amendments for weight exemptions should be introduced so as to ensure the high quality of Irish products is maintained and to protect consumers. Therefore, we are happy to support the Bill in its current form. The addition will bring Ireland into line with other signatories of the 1972 Hallmarking Convention and will give Irish buyers articles made with the quality assurance of an Irish hallmark.

I thank the Minister for bringing forward the Bill. I thank the staff of the Assay Office for their important work in this area. The Irish Assay Office has been in operation for the past 381 years. I hope the changes contained in the Bill will continue to help protect the high quality of Irish jewellery for many years to come.