Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will take measures to prevent English retail stores marking up the euro price of their products here. [8252/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is no provision in Irish consumer law which prevents retailers from recording the price of goods in different currencies. The European Communities (Requirement to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002, do, however, oblige retailers to indicate the price in euro on all goods offered for sale. Additionally the Consumer Protection Act 2007 makes it illegal to mislead consumers in relation to the price of a product. The Regulations and the Act are enforced by the National Consumer Agency and any infringements of these provisions should be reported to the Agency.

The European Commission is currently conducting a review of the Consumer Acquis which will involve a comprehensive examination of a total of eight specific consumer protection Directives, including the Directive which gave rise to the Requirement to Indicate Product Price Regulations. Whilst it is not possible at this stage to state precisely when the Commission's examination of this Directive will be completed, I am anxious that the discussions at European level should continue to focus on the need for clear indication of price information to consumers.

I fully accept the importance of consumers being given the necessary price information in order to be able to make informed decisions in relation to the goods that they buy. I support the Commission's stated intention to review the existing legislation on product price indication and my Department will play an active part in the discussions on this review.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his proposals for a consultation process regarding the prohibition of credit card and other relevant methods of payment surcharges to consumers; when he expects the process to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8343/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I advised the House in a previous reply to a question on this matter on 7th February, the public consultation process in relation to issues raised by the Deputy which relate to Sections 48 and 49 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007, resulted in a significant number of submissions to my Department. Those submissions gave rise to a number of complex matters, requiring careful consideration. I hope to conclude consideration of these issues in the near future.