CCPC welcomes Oireachtas approval of the Consumer Rights Bill 2022
October 27, 2022
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has welcomed Oireachtas approval of the Consumer Rights Bill 2022, which will strengthen consumer rights online and offline.
The CRB provides clarity to consumers and businesses, setting out specific obligations for traders and ensuring greater transparency for consumers before and after purchase.
The Bill will improve access to redress for consumers in the case of faulty goods or services, and consumers will now have significantly greater protections when buying digital services and content. Online reviews are also addressed in the Bill, which prohibits the posting of false reviews or endorsements and requires traders to make efforts to verify purchases by reviewers.
Kevin O’Brien, member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), said:
“The Consumer Rights Bill is an important step forward for consumer rights in Ireland. It will significantly improve protections and enhance the CCPC’s powers of enforcement. Consumer rights will be strengthened throughout the purchasing process – from the initial shopping stages, to the moment of sale, and beyond to any issues arising after purchase.”
“Every year, thousands of consumers contact the CCPC helpline in relation to faulty goods and services. This Bill will strengthen the rights and remedies available to those consumers. The Bill also expands and strengthens our enforcement powers – the CCPC will now be able to act against traders who fail to provide a remedy or reimbursement to which consumers are entitled.”
The Consumer Rights Bill 2022 was passed by Seanad Éireann today and will now be sent to President Michael D. Higgins for signing. You can read the full Bill on the Oireachtas website.
Further details of the new legislation will be published on our website for consumers and businesses once the Bill has been enacted and commenced.
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