S.I. No. 290/2006 - European Communities (Cooperation Between National Authorities Responsible for the Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws) Regulations 2006
European Communities (Cooperation between National Authorities Responsible for the Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws) Regulations 2006. |
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I, MICHEÁL MARTIN, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972 (No, 27 of 1972) and for the purpose of giving further effect to Regulation (EC) No. 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 20041 , hereby make the following regulations: 1. These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Cooperation between National Authorities Responsible for the Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws) Regulations 2006. 2. (1) In these Regulations - |
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-�Council Regulation-� means Regulation (EC) No. 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 20041 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws; |
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-�Financial Services Ombudsman-� has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 (inserted by section 2(d) of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004 (No. 24 of 2004)) of the Central Bank Act 1942 (No. 22 of 1942); |
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-�Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority-� means the body established by section 33B (inserted by section 26 of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 (No. 12 of 2003)) of the Central Bank Act 1942 ; |
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-�laws that protect consumers' interests-� means the Council Regulation specified at reference number 14 in column 2 of the Schedule and the legislation specified in column 3 of the Schedule; |
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-�office of Director of Consumer Affairs-� means the office established under section 9 of the Consumer Information Act 1978 (No. 1 of 1978). |
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(2) A word or expression that is used in these Regulations and is also used in the Council Regulation has the same meaning in these Regulations that it has in the Council Regulation. 3. The office of Director of Consumer Affairs is designated as the single liaison office responsible for the application of the Council Regulation. 4. (1) The public authority or public authorities specified in column 4 of the Schedule at a particular reference number are designated as the competent authority or competent authorities under Article 4(1) of the Council Regulation for the enforcement of those laws that protect consumers' interests specified in column 3 of the Schedule at that reference number. |
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(2) The public authority specified in column 4 of the Schedule at reference number 14 is also designated as the competent authority under Article 4(1) of the Council Regulation for the enforcement of the Council Regulation specified in column 2 of the Schedule at that reference number. 5. (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the competent authorities specified in column 4 of the Schedule shall exercise the powers specified in Article 4(6) of the Council Regulation. |
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(2) Where a power specified in subparagraph (f) or (g) of Article 4(6) of the Council Regulation is concerned, the competent authority shall apply to the High Court, which is designated to exercise the powers specified in those subparagraphs. |
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SCHEDULE |
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EXPLANATORY NOTE |
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(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be legal interpretation). |
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These regulations implement Regulation (EC) No. 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws. The Council Regulation requires member states to link up national enforcement authorities and enables them to take co-ordinated action against rogue traders who target consumers across EU borders. |
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The Council regulation removes barriers to information exchange and cooperation and also empowers enforcement authorities to seek and obtain action from their counterparts in other Member States |
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These regulations designate the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs as a -�single liaison office-� to coordinate information exchange between authorities in Ireland and between EU member states. |
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These regulations further provide that specified agencies of the State are designated as competent authorities for the purpose of implementing 14 of the Directives listed in the annex to the Council Regulation in regards to cross-border infringements of consumer law. |
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These regulations further provide that certain powers, as listed in Article 4 of the Council Regulation, are available to the designated competent authorities to facilitate the gathering information and pursuit of investigations into possible breaches of consumer law. |
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