Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress to date on the public consultation on the EU price display regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2528/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Directive 98/6/EC on the requirement to indicate product prices was transposed into Irish law in Statutory Instrument No. 639 of 2002 and came into force on 1st March 2003. The Directive obliges retailers to display the selling price and the unit price (the price per kilo or litre) for products.

I decided to review the EU price display legislation as it is legislation which impacts on the consumer every time they decide to purchase a product.

On 20th October 2006 I arranged for advertisements to be placed in the national newspapers inviting comments on the Regulations. A Consultation document outlining the issues which people could comment on was also produced and was available on the Department's website. I also arranged that groups and businesses with an interest in these matters be written to. A number of organisations have submitted comments to my Department in relation to the review on EU price display legislation. All of these comments are currently being considered and proposals will be made in the coming weeks.

It is important to note that as the Regulations transpose an EU Directive all proposals will have to be considered in conjunction with the European Commission. They are currently reviewing the operation of the Price Display Directive by Member States and any further actions that we take will have to incorporate and complement any EU changes.