Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 11: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to implement the commitment in the programme for Government that steps would be taken to ensure that consumer codes of conduct are published by businesses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41778/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Consumer Protection Act 2007, which commenced in May last year, empowers the National Consumer Agency to prepare and publish Guidelines to traders in relation to matters of consumer welfare and protection and matters related to commercial practices. The Act also empowers the Agency to review or approve Codes of Practice submitted to it by traders or their trade associations where the Agency is satisfied that the Code of Practice protects consumer interests.

In October 2008, the National Consumer Agency, in accordance with its powers under the Consumer Protection Act 2007, published Guidelines for the Leisure and Fitness Sector. The Guidelines are intended to help the sector to draw up clearer and fairer terms and conditions in consumer contracts.

In tandem with the Guidelines, the Agency also published Seven Principles for the sector. These Principles, which are non-binding, are essentially a best practice guide for leisure clubs in the context of their contractual commitments to consumers.

In early September, the Agency published a consultation document on Guidelines on Advertising of Price Discounts and Related Matters. The Guidelines are intended to facilitate the retail sector in complying with the requirements of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 in relation to a variety of misleading practices. The Agency is currently assessing the various views received, with a view to publishing Guidelines for the retail sector in the New Year. The Guidelines, when finalized, will help traders to better appreciate their obligations to provide unambiguous information to consumers, give clarity on certain aspects of the Act and provide a basis for a fairer and more evenly balanced approach towards advertising throughout the sector.

I very much welcome the Agency's initiatives in these areas. I am confident that the production of Guidelines in important sectors of the economy such as the retail and leisure and fitness sectors will help in the development of a strong consumer culture in those sectors. I strongly support the Agency's strategy of engaging constructively with business through initiatives such as Agency Guidelines and Consumer Codes of Practice, which will be to the benefit of not only consumers but also the businesses themselves.