Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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163. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the EU directive allowing for class action lawsuits is still scheduled to be transposed into Irish law in December 2022; if so, when in 2023 it will come into force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8832/22]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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This Directive does not allow for class action lawsuits, as suggested by the Deputy. Directive (EU) 2020/1828 of the European Parliament and of the Council dated 25 November 2020 on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers is due to be transposed into Irish law by 25 December 2022.  The Directive applies to representative actions (civil claims) brought by a qualified entity against infringements by traders of the provisions of Union law referred to in Annex 1 of the Directive that harm, or may harm, the collective interests of consumers.

A public consultation process dealing with the implementation of the Directive was held in spring 2021 and the views of stakeholders were noted and have contributed to the development of a draft General Scheme of a Bill to transpose the Directive . This work is continuing apace in my department and the intention is that the deadline for the Directive’s implementation will be met.  The measures contained in the Directive are due to take effect in all member states from 25 June 2023.