Consultation Paper on Reform of the Law on Consumer Contract Rights

The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has published a Consultation Paper on proposed legislation to consolidate and update the law on consumer contract rights. The proposed legislation will be the most important reform in this area of consumer law in recent decades.

The main elements of the proposed legislation, and the issues on which views are sought, include:

• consumer rights and remedies in contracts for the sale of goods
• consumer rights and remedies in contracts for the supply of goods
• consumer rights and remedies in contracts for the supply of digital content
• consumer rights and remedies in contracts for the supply of services
• unfair terms in consumer contracts, whether sales, digital content or service contracts

Views are also sought on the incorporation in the proposed legislation of the Regulations that give effect to the Consumer Rights Directive and of Parts 3 and 4 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 which give effect to the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive.

Responses to the consultation should be returned by close of business on Monday, 20 October 2014 by email with Consultation on Consumer Rights Bill in the subject line to conspol@djei.ie or by post to Competition and Consumer Policy Section, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Earlsfort Centre, Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2.

• European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013
• Consumer Protection Act 2007 (No. 19 of 2007)
• Sales Law Review Group