Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 48: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will report on the work to date in 2006 of the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs; if he is satisfied that adequate funding and staff have been allocated; the plans of the ODCA for the remainder of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32066/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Director of Consumer Affairs is a statutory office holder and under Section 9(5) of the Consumer Information Act 1978 is independent in the exercise of her duties. The work programme of the Director's Office is a day to day matter for the Director herself and I have no direct function in this regard.

The Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs continues to carry out an important role in relation to protecting consumers and particularly so in relation to the enforcement of consumer protection laws. A total of €4.289m was allocated by my Department to fund the activities of the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs in 2006. This represents an increase of 3.7% on the €4.137m in funding provided to the Director's office in 2005. I am satisfied that the Office has all the necessary resources to enable it to carry out its statutory functions to the best extent possible.