I fully concur with the Senator on the need to build public confidence in this technology. We have to build trust. One of the ways to do that is to ensure we have the proportionate regulatory framework in place. That is why Ireland, from our perspective, is working at a European level and feeding into the work being done there on the AI Act, which will set a harmonised set of rules for the development, placement on the market and use of AI systems, which will be proportionate and risk-based. As a small open economy…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 13, line 20, after "2014;" to insert "to amend section 459 of the Companies Act 2014;". Deputies will recall that I indicated on both Second and Committee Stages that I would be bringing forward amendments to section 459 of the Companies Act 2014, which I am now doing. The purpose of amendment No. 1 is to change the Long Title of the Bill to make reference to the 2014 Act, given that I am seeking to amend section 459 of the Act. Amendment No. 49 makes amendments to section 459 that a…

We had this discussion on Committee Stage. I appreciate what Deputy O'Reilly is aiming to achieve with these amendments. Section 22(1) of the Bill, which gives effect to Article 11(1) of the sale of goods directive, provides that a lack of conformity that becomes apparent within one year of the delivery of the goods shall be presumed to have existed at the time of delivery. The section does not utilise the option in Article 11(2) of the directive that permits member states to introduce a period of two years from th…

I fully understand where the Deputy is coming from in this regard, and indeed Deputy Sherlock, because we had quite a lengthy debate on this topic on Committee Stage. I felt then that this proposal was problematic, but I gave a clear undertaking that I would have my officials look to see if there was any practical way possible in which we could accept this amendment. I say that because I agree wholeheartedly with what the Deputy said and with what Deputy Sherlock said on Committee Stage. The sale of goods directive…

I fully agree with what Deputy Kelly is saying, but I am not a legal professional and I have to take the best legal advice that is given. I am told that in the context of maximum harmonisation, it is not possible to accept the amendment as submitted. I thank the Deputy for saying that it is an opportunity to make a name and lead the charge on this. There is a working party on consumer protection looking at this issue in Europe, and we can feed into that. We can request that the working party comes back on that at a…

I thank Deputy Quinlivan for moving these amendments on behalf of Deputy Louise O’Reilly. They seek to ensure that the information provided to consumers entering into various types of contracts is concise and in plain language. While I agree with all seven of Deputy O'Reilly's amendments and would welcome an end to countless pages of information being imposed on consumers, I can only accept three of them. I have sought legal advice on this matter and have been advised that due to the maximum harmonisation nature of…

I move amendment No. 10: In page 94, line 4, to delete “during” and substitute “before the expiry of”. These amendments are very straightforward and make small typographical corrections, such as, for example, the slight rewording of a section to clarify the law. These amendments are not policy driven; they merely tidy up the draft. Amendment No. 10 is a minor wording change to ensure consistency and continuity with the current position in Irish law on the right to cancel a consumer contract. The proposed language m…

I move amendment No. 11. In page 94, lines 7 and 8, to delete “during the cancellation period” and substitute “in accordance with subsection (1)”.

I move amendment No. 12: In page 103, to delete lines 24 to 27 and substitute the following: “124. (1) Where a trader operates a telephone line for the purpose of enabling a consumer to contact the trader in relation to a contract concluded by the consumer with the trader, the trader shall ensure that the telephone line is available to the consumer at a charge that does not exceed the basic rate.”. The purpose of amendment No. 13 is to clarify the language of section 124(7) which defines "basic rate" as it applies …

The Government has tabled an amendment clarifying what the definition of the basic rate is. It is to be no more than the rate in respect of a geographical landline. Deputy O'Reilly had sought to amend that, I suppose to add greater clarity.

It comes back to the maximum harmonisation point I have raised on a number of other amendments. The advice is that we cannot go further than we are going and that we have given the clarity as to what the basic rate is. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to accept Sinn Féin's amendment.

I move amendment No. 13: In page 104, to delete lines 1 to 20 and substitute the following: “(7) In this section— “basic rate”, in relation to a telephone line operated by a trader for the purpose referred to in subsection (1) , means: (a) where the telephone line uses a freephone number, nil; (b) where the telephone line uses a landline telephone number, the rate charged for a call to a landline telephone number; (c) where the telephone line uses a mobile telephone number, the rate charged for a call to a mobile t…

The proposed amendment to section 130 relates to renewal of subscription contracts. This is a highly complex area involving a number of regulated markets, including utilities, electronic communications and financial services, for which my Department has no policy responsibility. Any amendment of this kind would require consultation with sectoral regulators and other sectoral stakeholders as well as other Government Ministers. The new rules on differential pricing in the insurance sector, which are to take effect in…

I move amendment No. 16: In page 130, line 27, to delete “(a)” and substitute “(b)”. These grouped amendments which I am proposing are very straightforward and make small typographical corrections. They are not policy driven and merely tidy up the draftsmanship. Amendments Nos. 16 to 19, inclusive, are typographical amendments to retitle paragraphs as a consequence of insertions made on Committee Stage.

I move amendment No. 17: In page 130, line 29, to delete “(b)” and substitute “(c)”.

I move amendment No. 18: In page 131, line 28, to delete “(b)” and substitute “(c)”.

I move amendment No. 19: In page 131, line 30, to delete “(c)” and substitute “(d)”.

I move amendment No. 21: In page 137, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: “(a) by the substitution of the definition “authorised officer” for the following definition: “ ‘authorised officer’— (a) in relation to the functions performed by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission under this Act, has the same meaning as it has in the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014, and (b) in relation to the functions performed by the Commission for Communications Regulation under this Act, has th…

Why is it out of order?

I will address the two amendments together as there is considerable overlap between them. They were proposed by Deputy O'Reilly during the Bill's passage through the Dáil. I gave them considerable consideration at that time. I wholeheartedly agree with Deputy O'Reilly and the Senators who have proposed these amendments that it is important that any regulatory body be adequately resourced to coincide with any necessary legislative provisions that give it additional powers. The Department and the Competition and Cons…