Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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87. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is aware of the practice of retailers seeking a fee from customers paying utility bills in their outlets; if he will consider investigating the practice; the possibility of regulations to prevent the practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35437/15]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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While there is no statutory prohibition on the charging of fees for the payment of utility bills, Regulation 25 of the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013 provides that the fee charged for the use of a given means of payment must not exceed the cost to the trader of that means of payment. Enforcement of this and other provisions of the Regulations is the responsibility of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and, for electronic communications and premium rate services, the Commission for Communication Regulations. As the Deputy will be aware, a wide range of utility and other bills can be paid free of charge at post offices through An Post’s payment service, BillPay. In addition to the general question of fees for the payment of bills, I am aware that there is a specific issue regarding fees charged for topping up cards used with pay-as-you-go electricity and gas meters. Questions relating to fees charged for the use of these cards are a matter for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.