Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since the publication of the consumer strategy group report in May 2005, considerable progress has been made in progressing the report's recommendations.

The establishment of a new national consumer agency, which was the principal recommendation of the CSG, was fully accepted by the Government. Preparations for the establishment of the new agency are well under way. In this regard, I hope to publish the legislation establishing the new agency later this year.

The Deputy will be aware that an interim board of the NCA has already been in existence for more than six months. Since its appointment, the interim board has been very active in advocating the consumer's cause and raising the awareness of consumer rights. The interim board has been allocated funding to allow it to continue and intensify its activities throughout the course of 2006. In addition to being a forceful advocate on behalf of the consumer, the interim board, as part of its terms of reference, will have a key role in preparing the way for the fully operational agency.

The other significant recommendation in the consumer strategy group report related to the abolition of the groceries order. The Deputy will be aware that a Bill to repeal the order in its entirety and to amend the Competition Acts to strengthen the prohibitions in relation to resale price maintenance, unfair discrimination and "hello money" in the grocery trade is progressing through the Oireachtas.

In regard to the other recommendations of the CSG, a number of the recommendations relating to my Department have already been implemented. For example, the fines for breaching consumer protection laws have recently been significantly increased, as recommended by the CSG, the fundamental review of the existing code of consumer protection law, as recommended by the CSG, is already under way and additional resources have been dedicated by my Department to this task.

The CSG report contains more than 30 separate recommendations involving a variety of different of Departments and agencies whose activities directly impact upon the interests of consumers. Given the scope of the CSG's report, a high level interdepartmental committee was established to examine and prepare a detailed plan for the implementation of the recommendations. The committee's report, which was endorsed by the Government, is available on my Department's website.

I trust the Deputy can see that considerable progress has been made in progressing the recommendations of the CSG since the publication of its report. I am determined that this progress continues throughout the coming year and I am confident that together with the interim board of the NCA, progress will continue to be made to the benefit of consumers.