A new strategy group aimed at eradicating Ireland's widespread rip-off culture was unveiled by the Tanaiste, Ms Mary Harney, today in a bid to create a robust and independent consumer lobby.
Ms Harney said: "The time has come to put an end to horror stories of rip-off Ireland. That can only happen if consumers are given more power, more voice and more influence."
Chaired by Ms Ann Fitzgerald, chief executive of the Irish Association of Investment Managers, the Consumer Strategy Group is expected to deliver its recommendations on how to improve and promote consumers' rights in nine months.
The group can advise the government on existing and proposed legislation, carry out studies on whether Irish consumers are getting a fair deal, and examine best international practice.
Ms Harney said the voice of consumers had been absent for too long in Ireland and claimed the "whole purpose of putting this strategy together is to look at issues purely from a consumer perspective."
She said: "This is about much more than encouraging consumers to shop around. Consumers must know their rights, know how to enforce them and have the confidence in the system to back them up when theirs are denied."
She pointed out the Motor Insurance Advisory Board (MIAB) had played a successful role in setting up a road map to reform the insurance market and said she hoped this group will perform "the same function in relation to consumers that the MIAB group did in relation to insurance."
Asked whether the job of promoting consumer rights was not more suited to the Director of Consumer Affairs, Ms Harney replied it was important the new group maintained its independence from the state.
She claimed the role of the Director of Consumer Affairs was to enforce the law and said: "We need somebody separate from the legislative body to look at the issues".
The group's nine other members are: Ms Orna Ni Chionna, a former partner of McKinsey & Co; Mr Simon Nugent, former CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Ireland; Mr John O'Sullivan, founder and managing director of Aircoach; Mr Colin Hunt, research director with Goodbody stockbrokers; Mr Alex Shuster in Trinity College Dublin's school of law; Dr Edward Shinnick, a lecturer in economics with University College Cork; Ms Rosheen Callender, and economist with SIPTU; Mr Dermott Jewell, chief executive of the Consumers Association of Ireland; and Ms Aileen O'Toole, cofounder of the
Sunday Business Post.