Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work to date of the consumer consultative panel; if he has received the final report of the panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28367/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The work of the consumer strategy group is ongoing and has involved a number of initiatives. The website www.irishconsumer.ie has been established. A public consultation on consumer issues was held and individual consumers, representative organisations, businesses and any other interested parties were invited to contact the group with views and submissions by 9 July. The group produced a consultation paper entitled Components of Consumer Policy intended to assist those wishing to make a submission and to provide a framework for its work. In this paper the group focused on the key principles guiding the consumer agenda — access, safeguards, advice and support, redress, and consumer power — and also examined questions related to the business sector and consumers.

The group is conducting detailed research in a number of fields relevant to its work, including consumer attitudes, issues related to the retail sector, transport, the planning process, and a number of other issues. The experience of other countries in implementing consumer policy is also being taken into account. The group has met various parties, including officials of my own Department, the Director of Consumer Affairs, the Competition Authority and IFSRA. Numerous other meetings have been held with other relevant bodies in connection with the detailed work of the group. The group is due to produce a final report to me by the end of 2004.