Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
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42. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the growing number of retail outlets establishing themselves across the country which are selling products without adhering to the required regulatory guidelines; if his Department has carried out any review or assessment of compliance levels within such outlets; the enforcement measures currently in place to ensure that products offered for sale meet safety, consumer protection and public health standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60925/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the concerns raised in relation to the compliance of certain retail outlets with the relevant regulatory standards.

In Ireland, there are several designated Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) responsible for assessing the regulatory compliance of products sold in retail outlets. Their remit includes product safety, consumer protection, and public health standards. The primary MSAs under the remit of my Department involved in this work include the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), and the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).

The CCPC, for example, is responsible for ensuring that a wide range of products sold in Ireland meet specific regulations. This includes toys, domestic gas and electrical appliances, consumer personal protective equipment (PPE), and general consumer products such as baby soothers, furniture, and children’s clothing. CCPC product safety experts investigate consumer complaints about alleged non-compliant and unsafe products and work with manufacturers, importers, distributors, Customs, and other EU product safety authorities to protect consumers.

The CCPC proactively inspects businesses, including both online and physical retail outlets, to assess compliance with applicable product safety legislation. These inspections are risk-based and may result in the removal of non-compliant products from sale. The CCPC also undertakes proactive market surveillance, including laboratory testing of products. Where products fail safety testing, the CCPC engages with relevant supply chain actors to ensure proportionate actions are taken, such as product withdrawal, recall, or destruction.

While my department has not conducted a formal review, it works closely with the CCPC and other MSAs who carry out regular compliance assessments. Enforcement mechanisms available to MSAs include Compliance Notices, Prohibition Orders, Fixed Payment Notices, and on-the-spot fines, depending on the nature and severity of the non-compliance.

This Government remains committed to ensuring that all consumer products available on the Irish market meet the highest standards of safety, consumer protection, and public health, and will continue to support the work of the relevant authorities in this regard.