Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the draft EU consumer rights directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16496/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Discussions on the proposed Directive have been taking place in recent months between the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council under the co-determination procedure. The commencement of the trilogue talks followed the adoption of the Directive by Member States in Council on 24 January 2011, and a plenary session of the European Parliament on 24 March at which MEPs decided to postpone a final decision on the proposal with a view to reaching agreement with the Council.

Agreement has now been reached on a compromise text of the proposed Directive. This text was endorsed by Deputy Permanent Representatives in Brussels at COREPER on 15 June 2011, and was approved by the European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee on 16 June with 28 votes in favour, none against, and three abstentions. The compromise proposal is scheduled to be put to a plenary vote of the European Parliament on 23 June. If accepted by parliament, the proposed Directive will then have to be formally approved by the Council of Ministers, following which Member States will have two years in which to implement it.