Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 289: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to formulate guidelines for local authorities on the need to encourage the sale of fresh fruit and vegetables, as recommended by the consumer strategy report 2005. [18476/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the Consumer Strategy Group was published in May 2005. The most important recommendation was that a new National Consumer Agency be established. However there were other recommendations which affected consumers' interests.

One of these recommendations urged an increase in the number of casual trading licences issued to traders under the Casual Trading Act, 1995. Related to this was another recommendation that there be statutory based guidelines to ensure a consistent approach to casual trading by local authorities.

These recommendations have been accepted by Government. I hope to publish the new Consumer legislation later this year. I intend using this legislation to amend the Casual Trading Act, 1995 to enable me to issue statutory guidelines to local authorities so that a consistent approach towards trading is adopted. I intend using these guidelines to promote an increase in casual trading licences for the sale of fruit and vegetables.