Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 135: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to implement the commitment in the programme for Government to introduce on the spot fines for breaches of consumer law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25388/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The commitment to introduce on-the-spot fines for breaches of consumer legislation has been met by the Consumer Protection (Fixed Payment Notice) Regulations 2007 which came into effect on 13 October 2007.

The Regulations permit an authorised officer of the National Consumer Agency to serve a fixed payment notice in respect of breaches of the European Communities (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002 and of the various price display orders made under the Prices Act 1958 and retained by the Consumer Protection Act 2007. The Regulations provide that a prosecution for an alleged offence under these enactments will not be instituted if, during the period of 28 days from the issue of the fixed payment notice, the person alleged to have committed the offence makes a payment of €300 to the National Consumer Agency.

By simplifying the enforcement procedure for relatively minor breaches of consumer legislation, the new Regulations will permit the National Consumer Agency to devote greater resources to tackling more serious breaches of the law.