Consumer Policy Section

National Consumer Agency

The National Consumer Agency was established under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 (PDF, 562KB) with effect from the 1^st May 2007. The new Agency’s specific mandate includes advocacy, research, information, enforcement, education and awareness. The Agency enforces a wide range of consumer protection laws, including laws on deceptive trading practices (including unfair, misleading and aggressive), consumer credit, package travel, unfair contract terms, timeshare, consumer safety (mandatory standards), food labelling, textile labelling, unit pricing and price displays.

National Consumer Agency
4 Harcourt Road
Dublin 2
Ireland

Consumer Helpline Lo – call: 1890 432 432
Fax: +353 1 402 5501

Dublin European Consumer Centre

Dublin's European Consumer Centre provides amongst other functions, free and confidential information on consumer rights in the EU and assists consumers with cross-border disputes and also promotes Alternate Dispute Resolution schemes. The Centre is funded jointly by the National Consumer Agency and the European Commission.

If you live in Ireland and have a dispute with a retailer in another Member State, or if you live in another European country and have a dispute with an Irish retailer the Centre aims to solve it through co-operation with experts in European Consumer Centre's across the European Union.

If they cannot find a remedy through direct intervention with the company they will assist you in taking your dispute to an Alternative Dispute Resolution Body. This is a non-court procedure for resolving disputes.

Dublin European Consumer Centre
MACRO Centre, 1 Green St.,
Dublin 7
Ireland

Tel: +353 1 8797620
Email: info@eccdublin.ie

Legal Metrology Service

NSAI Legal Metrology Service uphold and enforce accuracy and transparency in trade measures by certifying and inspecting measuring instruments used by traders and by inspecting pre-packaged goods to ensure correct quantity.  NSAI LMS also operates a calibration service for weights and volume measures. Metrology plays a vital role in the economy in terms of consumer protection and fair trading, quality and efficiency, and in the reduction of trade barriers.

NSAI Legal Metrology
1 Swift Square
Northwood
Santry
Dublin 9

Tel: +353 1 8073800
Fax: +353 1 8073838
Email: info@nsai.ie

Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI)

The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) is the independent self-regulatory body set up and financed by the advertising industry and committed to promoting the highest standards of marketing communications, that is, advertising, promotional marketing and direct marketing.

The ASAI accepts complaints from any person or body who considers that an advertisement or sales promotion may be in breach of its Manual of Advertising Self-Regulation with the Code of Standards for Advertising, Promotional and Direct Marketing.

Complaints are investigated free of charge. The identity of an individual consumer complainant remains confidential unless a commercial or other interest is involved in making a complaint. Complainants may be asked to confirm that they have no such interest.

Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland
IPC House
35/39 Shelbourne Road
Dublin 4

Tel: +353 1 6608766
Fax: +353 1 6608113
Email: standards@asai.ie

Useful consumer information links

The useful links page contains useful information related to consumer information and consumer rights.