Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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181. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the key measures and initiatives taken in relation to the improving of consumer rights and protections since July 2020; his assessment of the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30816/24]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department recognises the importance of giving consumers more choice, information and protection.

As such, my Department works to maintain an agile, efficient regulatory regime that promotes fair competition for both businesses and consumers and safeguards strong, transparent consumer rights to ensure value for money, quality customer care and protection from unsafe products.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for enforcing consumer protection and competition law in Ireland and its mission is to make markets work better for consumers and businesses. It is an independent investigative and enforcement body under the aegis of my Department. Competition policy contributes to lower prices over the long term by ensuring that markets work well for consumers.

In recent years, my Department has introduced significant additional safeguards for consumers. Individually, they represent major pieces of legislation aimed at improving consumer protection. However, taken as a suite of measures, the increase and improvements they bring about is considerable.

These key developments are:

• The Consumer Rights Act 2022, which has brought about a number of positive changes for consumers including stronger rights to redress for faulty goods; a ban on fake reviews; and all, traders are required to clearly set out a description of the goods or services being provided, the total price of the item and the cost of delivery before entering into a contract with a consumer, thereby allowing consumers to make an informed choice whether to purchase or not.
• In addition, for the first time, consumers will have the same rights and protections over digital content and digital services, like streaming, downloads and cloud products, as they have for traditional products and services.
• The Representative Actions Act 2023 is the first legislation of its kind in Ireland as it allows for a group of consumers to take an action against a trader to the High Court, using the services a Qualified Entity, for an infringement of their consumer rights.
• The Sale of Tickets Act 2021 promotes fairer access to tickets for cultural, entertainment, recreational and sporting events by prohibiting the sale or advertising for sale of tickets or ticket packages for a price exceeding their original sale price, for events taking place in designated venues and for designated events. The Act regulates the secondary ticket market where tickets are resold after their original purchase from the primary ticket market, and where prices are more likely to be sold above their original sale price.
• The Price Indications Directive (PID) tightens up the rules on sales advertising and prevents businesses from misleading consumers when communicating price reductions and ensures that discount claims are transparent and genuine. This means that any advertised price reduction will have to include the previous price of the product.

• The General Product Safety Regulation (the GPSR) will come into force on 13th December 2024. It lays down essential rules on the safety of consumer products placed and made available on the EU market and will create a level playing field for consumers and business, ensuring the highest level of protection.
• The EU Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition came into force on the 27 March 2024 and is due to be transposed into law by the 27 March 2026. The Directive ensures that companies do not make unsubstantiated green claims on the environmental benefits, the circulatory or the social characteristics of their products. It also ensures that consumers are provided with information on guarantees, as well as information on the repairability of the product, the aftercare service and digital or software updates.
• The Right to Repair Directive will make it easier for consumers to seek repair instead of replacement and repair services will become more accessible, transparent and attractive. This proposal forms part of the Circular Economy Action Plan and it complements the Green Transition Directive.