Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a recent premium call project which seeks to give members of the public the impression that a cheque for sums in excess of €20,000 will be posted to them if they ring a certain number; if his attention has been drawn to the comments of the Director of Consumer Affairs on defects in the legal protection framework to deal with such schemes; and if he has plans to introduce new legislation to enhance consumer protection in this regard. [12574/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have received a number of complaints in recent times on practices which involve the public in the use of premium rate telephone calls to claim so-called "awards" and where the only commercial transaction appears to be the inducement by the promoter to the consumer to use the telephone and in this way the promoter gains financial benefit. The consumer appears to receive nothing in return.

I have asked my officials to examine these complaints and to discuss the matter with the Director of Consumer Affairs before deciding an appropriate response. I understand that the regulator for premium rate phone calls, Regtel, has initiated an investigation into the activities of one of the companies involved and has suspended the use of the premium rate phone line pending the result of the investigation.