National Consumer Agency Welcomes Consumer Protection Bill
1 February 2007 - The National Consumer Agency (NCA) today welcomed the publication of the legal text of the new Consumer Protection Bill by Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin, TD.
"We are delighted to see the extensive measures taken in the first major overhaul of consumer legislation in over 30 years by Minister Martin," said Ann Fitzgerald, Executive Chair of the National Consumer Agency and Director of Consumer Affairs. "We welcome the publication of this bill which includes extensive protection for consumers in addition to providing for the formal establishment of the NCA.
"The powers being given to the NCA are wide ranging and will enable us to put consumers first, through the enforcement of existing, and new, legal protections. They will also enable the NCA to fulfil the equally important roles of advocacy, research and information provision on consumers' behalf," she continued.
"For too long, the valid needs of consumers in Ireland have taken second place to those of well resourced industry interests. This imbalance will be redressed through the new legislation. We welcome the powers being given to the NCA, and look forward to getting the resources to do our job effectively, in the interests of consumers in Ireland." she said.