National Consumer Agency

The National Consumer Agency (NCA) is a statutory body that defends consumer interests in the Republic of Ireland.

Background

The NCA's origins can be traced to the setting up of the Consumer Strategy Group (CSG) in March 2004^[1].

The CSG presented its report, “Making Consumers Count”, to the then Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland), Micheál Martin, in April 2005. Among the report's key recommendations was the establishment of a new agency to champion consumer rights.

The NCA was set up on an interim basis in May 2005, and established on a statutory footing on May 1, 2007^[2]. Its chief executive is Ann Fitzgerald^[3], a former chief executive of the Irish Association of Investment Managers. She also chaired the Consumer Strategy Group.

The Irish government announced in its 2009 Budget on 14 October 2008 that the NCA would be amalgamated with the Competition Authority, as part of a rationalisation programme that will reduce the number of state agencies in the country by 41.^[4]

The NCA's campaigns to date include naming and shaming retailers who are caught breaking consumer law, preventing car dealers "clocking" second-hand cars (altering vehicles' odometers), and intervention in high-profile consumer disputes including ones with NTL Ireland, Aer Lingus^[5] and MCD Promoters^[6]These interventions resulted in speedy and satisfactory resolutions to the benefit of consumers.

The agency has also carried out a series of price comparison surveys between leading supermarket chains, and cross-border comparisons of grocery items in stores' branches in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

On 2 September 2008 the agency published draft guidelines for the retail sector about how they should advertise price reductions, and related matters such as how long an item needs to be on sale at a higher price before advertising it with a reduced price comparison.

In December the same year there was a nationwide withdrawal of pigmeat from retail outlets after a dioxin contamination scare^[7]. The NCA successfully campaigned for full compensation for consumers after initial reluctance by some supermarket chains to refund products that were not their own brands.

On the 18 June 2009, Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan TD announced the Irish Government's decision to establish a single fully integrated regulatory institution, the Central Bank of Ireland Commission. It will replace the current board structure of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland.

As part of this change, the Financial Regulator's consumer information and education role will be reassigned to the National Consumer Agency.^[8][9][10]

On 16 August 2010 the NCA published its response ^[11] to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government's Review of the Retail Planning Guidelines (RPGs) Issues Paper.

ConsumerProperty.ie

In late September 2008 the National Consumer Agency launched a guide and a dedicated website ^{[12] [13]}, ConsumerProperty.ie, for people living in or planning on buying multi-unit dwellings. The website and guide have information and tipson consumers' rights and responsibilities if living in apartments, gated communities and other multi-unit developments.

The guide, "Buying and Living in a Multi-Unit Development Property" in Ireland, is available in booklet format or as a download from the website. It contains information on legal terms, Property management companies and agents, service charges, sinking funds, the function of developers, identifying defects (snagging), insurance and fire safety.

Economiser

On 30 March 2010 the NCA launched the Economiser^{[14] [15]}. This interactive tool advises consumers how much more or less they are spending than the average most relevant to them in Ireland, based on the profiling information they have provided.

This unique tool addresses four key expenditure areas:

• Groceries
• Energy
• TV and telecoms (other than mobile)
• Mobile phones

Shop Smart

In April 2010 the NCA launched an interactive game set in a virtual shopping centre called Shop Smart. Test you knowledge of consumer rights and consumer issues in Ireland.

The game is aimed at Irish Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate students who are studying Home Economics, Business Studies and Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE).

Try the Shop Smart game now.

References

• Irish Government's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
• Article one about establishment of National Consumer Agency
• Article two about establishment of National Consumer Agency
• Consumer Protection Act 2007

External links

• ConsumerConnect.ie – the NCA’s website for consumers
• NCA.ie – the NCA’s corporate site, aimed more at businesses (explaining consumer legislation and their obligations to consumers), plus researchers and the media
• ConsumerProperty.ie - the NCA's site about buying an apartment or house in a multi-unit development in Ireland - find out more about the issues and get tips and resources
• The Economiser - shows consumers how to save money and gives tips on how to reduce household bills
• Shop Smart game - test your knowledge of consumer rights