Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when it is expected that the unfair commercial practices directive, which increases protection for consumers across the EU and outlaws the establishment, operation or promotion of pyramid promotional schemes and which was adopted in May 2005 will be transposed into Irish law so that its protections will be made available to consumers here. [12701/06]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the review of the law on pyramid schemes commenced; when it is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12702/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos.167 and 168 together.

Legislation transposing the unfair commercial practices directive must be adopted by 12 June 2007 and applied by 12 December 2007. I hope to introduce a Bill in the last quarter of the year that will transpose the directive, update and consolidate the domestic legislation within its domain and establish the national consumer agency. No separate review of the legislation on pyramid schemes is in progress. The Pyramid Selling Act 1980 is being reviewed along with other relevant consumer legislation in the context of the need to adopt the unfair commercial practices directive and to ensure that our domestic legislation is in line with the provisions of the directive. This wide

In the meanwhile, I have instructed my officials to contact the deputy Garda commissioner responsible for the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation to seek his views on any difficulties being experienced under current legislation and to determine whether he has any suggestions as to how the legislation might be improved, based on his experience dealing with the sort of practices employed by the people who devise and promote such schemes