Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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899. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to confirm that there are two-year warranties on electrical products on the European continent compared with one-year warranties here for the same product; the measures he will take to increase the duration of warranties on electrical products to bring them into line with Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41652/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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EU Directive 2019/771 which covers elements of contracts for the sale of goods, gives rights and remedies to consumers where goods they purchased are not in conformity with the sales contract.

Under this Directive, the trader is liable to the consumer for any lack of conformity which exists at the time when the consumer takes delivery of the goods, and which becomes apparent within two years of receiving the goods. This Directive was transposed into Irish law by the Consumer Rights Act, 2022 and Irish consumers are entitled to rely on this two-year period as set out in the Directive.

However, additionally, consumers in Ireland are afforded a longer period of 6 years from when they receive a good in which they can seek a remedy for non-conformity. This six-year period is set out in the Statute of Limitations Act, 1957.

In Ireland, where a consumer purchases goods from a trader, and the goods are not in conformity with the sales contract, for example they are faulty or defective, the consumer is entitled to a remedy from the trader under the Consumer Rights Act 2022. Remedies available may include a repair, replacement, or refund.

In addition, under the 2022 Act, where a lack of conformity arises in the first year, there is a presumption that the goods were not in conformity with the contract at the time the consumer received the goods, unless proven otherwise. For this presumption to arise, the consumer only needs to show that there is a lack of conformity and that it arose in the first year.

As such, under Irish law, consumers retain the right to seek redress for any lack of conformity for a period of up to six years from the date they receive the goods, electrical or otherwise, in accordance with the Statute of Limitations Act, 1957.

This six-year period is inclusive of the initial one-year period during which the presumption of non-conformity arises and is also inclusive of the general two-year period, both of which are set out in the Consumer Rights Act, 2022.

As such, the duration of warranties in Ireland is both in line and indeed beyond that which is required by EU law.