Tom Kitt launches Consumer Advisory Council

Tom Kitt TD, Minister for Consumer Affairs today (Friday 29^th June 2001) chaired the inaugural meeting of the Consumer Advisory Council. The Council comprises nominees of a wide range of organisations representing consumer interests, business interests, the trade union movement, regulatory authorities, complaints bodies, professional associations and other non-governmental organisations. The Council will, for the first time, provide a mechanism for consulting with these organisations on matters of interest to consumers and feeding their views into the policy-making process. The Council has been established, and will be operated, by the Minister in close collaboration with the Director of Consumer Affairs, Carmel Foley.

"For too long the consumer has been the ‘silent partner’ in Irish society" said the Minister. "The OECD, in their recent report on Regulatory Reform in Ireland, called for the consumer to be placed at the top of the policy agenda and the establishment of this Council demonstrates my determination to do just that. The Government’s commitment to enhancing the consumer voice has already been made clear by the decision of the Minister for Finance, strongly supported by me, to grant aid the Consumers Association of Ireland for the next three years. This Council is a further step to build the consumer lobby and ensure that consumer interests receive the attention they deserve in public policy debates."