Structural change: Establish the national consumer agency which would be independent of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, have responsibility for a range of functions designed to research and respond to the needs of consumers and have the resources to carry out these functions effectively.
Responsibility: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Consumer legislation and enforcement
Increase the limit of the maximum award to €3,000 in the small claims procedure in the District Court.
Responsibility: Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Current Government policy and processes
Increase resources of the Competition and Consumer Policy section in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, particularly to enhance legislative capability.
Responsibility: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Incorporate consumer considerations in regulatory impact analysis (RIA) procedures; consumer-proof all relevant Government decisions.
Responsibility: Department of An Taoiseach, All Government departments
Business and the consumer: codes of practice
Promote the use of codes of practice by all businesses and encourage self-regulation schemes.
Responsibility: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Establish private sectoral complaints boards as an alternative means of redress.
Responsibility: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Organisations with a consumer remit
Review in three years the effectiveness of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority in carrying out its consumer protection role.
Responsibility: Department of Finance
Planning
Oblige local authorities to demonstrate how needs of consumers have been explicitly taken into account at the forward planning level stage and in dealing with planning applications in relation to retail and other service provisions.
Responsibility: Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
Pharmaceuticals
Change the current methodology for establishing manufacturers' prices of pharmaceuticals. Include a consumer impact assessment to ensure that all consumers are getting best value for money.
Responsibility: Department of Health and Children
Passenger transport
Separate the regulatory and ownership functions of the Department of Transport.
Responsibility: Department of Transport
Broaden the remit of the Aviation Regulator to include taxis, buses and other forms of passenger transport.
Responsibility: Department of Transport
Groceries Order
Revoke the Groceries Order immediately
Responsibility: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Abolish the limit on the number of pub licences awarded.
Responsibility: Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Introduce new forms of licences (for example, for cafes) designed to cater for changing consumer tastes in the market place.
Responsibility: Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Ensure that planning is not used as a barrier to entry in respect of pub and other forms of licence.
Responsibility: Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government