John Carty (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and the fact that the Labour Party has introduced the Bill at this particular time of the year. It is important that we raise the awareness of gift vouchers and people's entitlements. The Minister of State gave a comprehensive reply and I do not intend to recite it all, but the Government is concerned that the sale of items such as gift vouchers and tokens should be conducted in as transparent a manner as possible. The Minister of State and his Department are examining the possibility of making regulations under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 with a view to prescribing specific information, including information regarding the period in which a voucher must be redeemed. This information would accompany the voucher's sale and advertisements.

The sellers of gift vouchers are practical people and allow more than the stated time, particularly in the hospitality sector, including restaurants and hotels. In my part of the word, such sellers are good. I know of a case in which a voucher was four years old but the hotel honoured it. Perhaps the situation in Dublin is different given the volume of business, but sellers are practical in the west. If one telephones them to say that one will not be able to make it within the 12 months, they will normally allow a further period in which to cash the voucher.

I was surprised by Senator Callely's remarks as I had never heard of small print on a voucher in the west to the effect that it could not be used on a Thursday or Friday night. Those who are giving vouchers should come west and buy their vouchers as presents there.