Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the negative impact on the Consumer Association of Ireland of various funding changes in the past five years to a situation that the association has had to substantially reduce staff and is facing closure which would leave Ireland as the only European state without an independent, non-governmental consumer rights organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33957/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I recently met with the Consumers Association of Ireland which apprised me of its current financial position. The Association also raised the possibility of future exchequer support. I advised the Association that, notwithstanding difficulties it may be experiencing in managing its finances, exchequer support could only be considered where the expending of public funds would represent value for money. In the light of our discussion, I understand that the Association intends to submit a proposal to seek exchequer support in the coming weeks. Any proposal submitted by the Association will have to demonstrate that it represents value for money, which is the requirement in respect of the expenditure of all public monies.