Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on correspondence (details supplied); and her plans for the Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill 2016. [32313/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently examining the proposals set out in the submission from the Irish Jewellers Association. These proposals were sent to my Department on 26 June 2017. In this context, my Department is currently consulting with other stakeholders in the jewellery sector on these proposals.

I would recall that such weight exemptions have not been a feature of Irish hallmarking legislation. Views on this issue have been traditionally divided with wholesalers being in favour of weight exemptions while other stakeholders, including the jewellery manufacturers and retailers, being against their introduction. 

While I am willing to examine any proposals in a constructive manner, this must be on the understanding that they do not undermine the current system of hallmarking in Ireland or result in a reduction in the level of consumer protection that the current legislative framework provides.