The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) on Thursday called for a range of new agreements between key regulators on consumer protection issues, in order to avoid duplication, excessive bureaucracy and inconsistencies in their respective mandates.
Speaking at IBEC’s Consumer Protection Conference 2007, held in Dublin last week, Aileen O’Donoghue, Chair of IBEC's Regulated Sectors Group explained that:
"Clear lines have yet to be drawn between the remit of the new National Consumer Agency (NCA) and the various other regulators in operation. It is vital for businesses and consumers alike that the remit of the various regulators is clearly spelt out so that people know where to go for information and so as to avoid duplication."
Ms O’Donoghue welcomed the establishment of the new National Consumer Agency, but observed that:
"The far reaching consequences of the Consumer Protection (National Consumer Agency) Act, 2007 must be assessed. The agency itself must be well informed from both a consumer and a business point of view."
She continued:
"For too long consumer policy has been driven by easy sound bites and skirmishes with business. IBEC wants to see a new era of consumer protection commence with the operation of the NCA. The first step must be to establish a consultation mechanism with business to explore how business can be an effective partner in the implementation of consumer protection in Ireland."
Ms O’Donoghue stressed the need for constant engagement between the NCA and business to ensure clear channels of communication and the speedy resolution of issues if they arise.
"The effective implementation of national consumer protection policy on the ground requires engagement with all market stakeholders, especially the business sector," she argued, concluding:
"Business in all sectors of the economy, particularly those in direct
contact with customers, including service providers, manufacturers and retailers,
will be affected by this new legislation, which brings the most far reaching
reform of consumer law in over 25 years."
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