John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has received the submission by the Irish travel agents association (details supplied); if he will agree to address their concerns in relation to the Consumer Protection Bill 2007, Section 48 Prohibition on surcharges where one method of payment is chosen in preference to another; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12602/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Office has received correspondence from the Irish Travel Agents Association and a number of the Association's members regarding their concerns in relation to particular provisions of the Consumer Protection Bill, which recently completed its passage through the Dail.

The Association is concerned that the provisions in the Bill prohibiting traders from imposing additional charges on customers by reason of the customer choosing to make payment for goods or services by one specified method over another will severely impact on the business of the Association's members.

The provisions merely seek to prohibit differential pricing by traders based on method of payment. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the vast majority of traders do not impose surcharges for accepting payment by particular methods and do not differentiate in price as between payment methods.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I am mindful of the concerns expressed by the Association and in this regard officials of my Department and my colleague Minister of State Killeen both recently met with the Association to discuss these concerns. I am more than happy to meet with the Association again to consider how the said provisions can be brought into effect in a manner which minimizes any adverse impact on its members.

I would re-emphasize that the sole aim in introducing these provisions is to protect consumers and I am confident that their impact will be in line with that aim.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will oppose the proposal to make a charge for payment by credit card (details supplied) as same will damage the travel industry who are operating on a net margin of 2%. [12757/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The proposal referred to by the Deputy relates to Section 48 of the Consumer Protection Bill 2007 which prohibits traders from imposing additional charges on customers by reason of the customer choosing to make payment for goods or services by one specified method over another.

I am aware of the concerns expressed by a number of travel agents and their representative association that Section 48 will have a serious effect in terms of eroding their operating profit margins. The provisions merely seek to prohibit differential pricing by traders based on method of payment and in this regard it should be borne in mind that the vast majority of traders do not impose surcharges for accepting payment by particular methods and do not differentiate in price as between payment methods.

I would advise the Deputy that mindful of the concerns expressed by the travel agents, officials of my Department and my colleague Minister of State Killeen both recently met with their representative association to discuss these concerns. I am more than happy to meet with the Association again to consider how the said provisions can be brought into effect in a manner, which minimizes any adverse impact on its members.

I would re-emphasize that the sole aim in introducing these provisions is to protect consumers and I am confident that their impact will be in line with that aim.