#Consumer Affairs

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#Consumer Affairs

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>To exchange an unwanted gift, the item should be in the original wrapper, with labels attached. This is particularly important when it comes to clothing items. You'll also need a receipt and you'll have to check the shop's returns or gift policy</p>

columnists

Caitríona Redmond: Unwanted Christmas gift? Here are your options

If you do get any unwanted Christmas presents, you may not be able to take them all back, writes Caitríona Redmond

<p>Water beads are highly attractive to children. But, being made of super-absorbent polymers, they can swell up to golf-ball size if swallowed. Picture: iStock</p>

comment-analysis

How to avoid a toy-related trip to hospital A&E this Christmas

<p>King Colis is a company that specialises in buying lost e-commerce packages and then reselling them as ‘mystery parcels’ to customers willing to gamble on getting a bargain. Pictures: The Square Tallaght</p>

people

Caitríona Redmond: Why are we introducing children to gambling at Christmas — or ever?

TD 'frustrated' at slow rollout out of contactless payments on public transport

politics

TD 'frustrated' at slow rollout out of contactless payments on public transport

Services sector sees weakened competition as larger players grow market share – CCPC

companies

Services sector sees weakened competition as larger players grow market share – CCPC

christmas caution

comment-analysis

Parents urged to put safety at top of Santa's list this Christmas

Woman looking at houses and flats in the window of an estate agent in London, UK

Value of mortgages up 4.2% annually despite drop in approvals

Banking and Payments Federation said first-time buyer mortgage approvals remain robust despite a slowdown in mover purchase activity

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Warmer homes scheme: Applicants wait up to 22 months for retrofits to be completed

Warmer homes scheme: Applicants wait up to 22 months for retrofits to be completed

Wait times could increase as more people become eligible for the retrofitting programme

Mon, 24 Nov, 2025

Man Shopping Electronics Online During Black Friday Sale.

Black Friday: Is the seasonal sale really worth it?

Is this seasonal sale really worth it? Really, it is only a bargain when you truly need the item

Mon, 24 Nov, 2025

Irish Black Friday spend expected to fall 14% since last year

Irish Black Friday spend expected to fall 14% since last year

PwC survey suggests the average Irish consumer expects to spend €283 during the 2025 Black Friday sales weekend

Mon, 24 Nov, 2025

Caitríona Redmond: Free flights for my shopping points? I don’t believe it!

Caitríona Redmond: Free flights for my shopping points? I don’t believe it!

Does every little really help? Not always

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025

Weekly supermarket shopping

S Terry Prone: Digital payments are fine but, like most of us, I still prefer to carry cash

Flexible as my phone payment system is, it won’t talk to supermarket trolleys

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025

'Brigade of people' waiting for influencers to slip up on 'overreaching' ad guidelines

'Brigade of people' waiting for influencers to slip up on 'overreaching' ad guidelines

Under the Consumer Protection Act, Irish influencers must clearly indicate if their posts are of a commercial nature

Listen | Mon, 27 Oct, 2025

Regulator warns of 'unacceptable' number of shops selling lottery products to minors

Regulator warns of 'unacceptable' number of shops selling lottery products to minors

Regulator finds almost 30% of retailers are failing to prevent lottery sales to underage buyers

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Landlords will have to reveal how much rent they charge tenants

Landlords will have to reveal how much rent they charge tenants

Landlords will have to publicly disclose rent prices under new Government laws aimed at improving transparency and compliance

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

The Cliffs of Moher project that could change how Ireland welcomes the world

The Cliffs of Moher project that could change how Ireland welcomes the world

A University of Limerick team has created a data dashboard to help Ireland’s tourism industry tailor experiences in real time

Sat, 11 Oct, 2025

Shoppers at supermarket Sainsbury's for their weekly shopping when special prices are on offer, dealing with the cost of living

Caitríona Redmond: Families go backwards as Paschal Donohoe peels an orange in his pocket

Soaring energy prices and food shrinkflation are battering even the most frugal of families — and Budget 2026 has done nothing for them

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Young woman 20s attempting to read and understand her electricity meter reading and energy bill

Budget 2026: 9% Vat rate on gas and electricity should remain – Jack Chambers

Public expenditure minister said the 9% rate should be retained to prevent further price hikes for consumers

Sun, 21 Sep, 2025

Car parked in luxury showroom. Car dealership office. Car showroom business. New car parked in modern showroom. Auto for sale an

Mercs and BMWs among the 43 vehicles seized for non-payment of M50 tolls

Dublin Sheriff seized 43 vehicles in the first six months of 2025 including high-end marques such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, and Land Rover

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Senior couple sat at a table doing paperwork

Pension crisis: 26% of Irish adults surveyed have no financial plans for retirement

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission survey reveals 'worrying trend' as growing number of Irish people are not putting plans in place for when they retire

Mon, 15 Sep, 2025

Penneys' underlying sales to fall in second half on weaker European demand

Penneys' underlying sales to fall in second half on weaker European demand

Associated British Foods warns it expects consumer environment 'to remain uncertain'

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Illegal weight-loss drugs among 400,000 units impounded by HPRA in six months

Illegal weight-loss drugs among 400,000 units impounded by HPRA in six months

Health Products Regulatory Authority warns that black market drugs — many of which are promoted with false claims on social media — can damage people's health

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

New car production

CSO retail index see strong growth in July boosted by motor sales

However retail sales in some sectors have been falling including larger-than-expected 3.5% declines in categories including newspapers, books, and department stores

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

young mum queries a bill on the phone .

Consumer sentiment improves marginally in August but cost-of-living concerns rise

Irish League of Credit Unions index shows consumer sentiment index reached 61.1 during August, up from the 59.1 figure reported for July

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Batch of chicken Kievs recalled following detection of salmonella

Batch of chicken Kievs recalled following detection of salmonella

The Kievs are sold in 500g packs and have a best before date of October 2026

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

Ryanair stock

Revealed: The companies Irish consumers complain about most

Ryanair, Eir and Sky topped CCPC’s complaints list as Irish consumers reported losing €56m on faulty goods and services

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

JetBlue Airways

S Terry Prone: Cabin staff no longer exist to help make your flight enjoyable

Cabin staff no longer exist to help make your flight enjoyable. They’re there to sell you stuff and if you don’t want it, you can shiver right off, so you can.

Mon, 04 Aug, 2025

Nostalgia, fun, and FOMO: How Nintendo Switch 2 captured generational appeal

Nostalgia, fun, and FOMO: How Nintendo Switch 2 captured generational appeal

Smyths and Currys say Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World sold out within hours in Ireland and selling strongly now it's back in stock

Sat, 02 Aug, 2025

Several spinach and mixed leaves products recalled following detection of listeria

Several spinach and mixed leaves products recalled following detection of listeria

The recall of McCormack Family Farms products comes after 170 readymeals made by Ballymaguire Foods were called back amid a listeriosis outbreak

Sun, 27 Jul, 2025

Ballymaguire Foods appoints public health expert after listeria-linked meal recall

Ballymaguire Foods appoints public health expert after listeria-linked meal recall

Over 170 ready meals have been pulled from shelves as Ballymaguire works with authorities to protect public health

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

ieExplains: What is listeriosis, the infection linked to the recall of ready-made meals

ieExplains: What is listeriosis, the infection linked to the recall of ready-made meals

An adult has died with a confirmed case of the rare bacterial infection listeriosis as health officials continue to investigate an 'extensive outbreak'

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

Weekly supermarket shopping

Adult dies with listeriosis as nine cases linked to recall of ready meals

The recall included dozens of products sold under various names at Tesco, SuperValue, Centra, and Aldi

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

The Temu app.

EU commissioner shocked Michael McGrath by dangers of some goods sold by Shein and Temu

Michael McGrath has vowed to crack down on the sale of goods that blatantly break the law

Sun, 20 Jul, 2025

Achill island coastal scenery

Colin Sheridan: Better late than never for Achill’s broadband lifeline

State has finally delivered on the promise of reliable fast broadband connectivity

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

Almost 60,000 Tower air fryers recalled over fire risk

Almost 60,000 Tower air fryers recalled over fire risk

The models were made between 2020 and 2024 and sold in outlets across Ireland, including Argos, Tesco, DID, Dealz, Lidl, and Amazon

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025

traffic_jam

Consumer watchdog vows to crack down on motor industry

CCPC will tackle 'anti-competitive practices' such as car dealers telling customers their warranty will be void if they go to independent garages for repairs

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Government seeks to beef up Ireland's competitiveness

Government seeks to beef up Ireland's competitiveness

New powers for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission planned as Micheál Martin hosts competitiveness summit

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Global recession the top concern for households in Ireland

Global recession the top concern for households in Ireland

Cost of housing and rent still a major issue too, with over a quarter of 16 to 29-year-olds citing it as their biggest worry, according to a new Bank of Ireland survey

Wed, 25 Jun, 2025

Irish households' €160bn in savings could be unlocked to fund new homes – SCSI

Irish households' €160bn in savings could be unlocked to fund new homes – SCSI

State-backed housing investment vehicle could release some of the €160bn, most of which is in low-interest current accounts

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025

Classic bar

Alcohol consumption falls again, dropping 4.5% last year

Industry demands a cut in excise rates to protect small pubs and restaurants

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025

SPAR Grocery Supermarket.

Spar wants a bigger slice of Ireland's €15bn grocery market

Strategy includes plans for new store openings, upgrading existing sites, and a new design for EuroSpar supermarkets

Sun, 08 Jun, 2025

Conspiracies, distrust and 'holding on for dear life': Inside Ireland's largest Bitcoin Conference

Conspiracies, distrust and 'holding on for dear life': Inside Ireland's largest Bitcoin Conference

People attending the Bitcoin Ireland Conference were urged to ‘reclaim’ aspects of their lives that ‘we outsource to experts’, writes Emer Walsh

Listen | Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Consumer watchdog 'should have more powers to probe supermarket pricing'

Consumer watchdog 'should have more powers to probe supermarket pricing'

Proposal to boost powers of Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Wed, 28 May, 2025

100% mortgages would drive up house prices, Central Bank warns

100% mortgages would drive up house prices, Central Bank warns

Celtic Tiger-style 100% home loans would also increase risk to borrowers and banks, Mark Cassidy told the Oireachtas housing committee

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Butter

Caitríona Redmond: Why have butter prices soared and is it cheaper in other countries?

Head melted from increased prices? Word is spreading that butter is cheaper abroad but is that a rumour or a fact?

Mon, 26 May, 2025

RTÉ’s Oliver Callan adds 25,000 listeners to show, according to JNLR survey

RTÉ’s Oliver Callan adds 25,000 listeners to show, according to JNLR survey

Morning Ireland the most listened to show in the country

Thu, 15 May, 2025

M&S says customer data was taken in cyberattack

M&S says customer data was taken in cyberattack

The retailer, whose stores remain open, is widely reported to have been the victim of a ransomware attack

Tue, 13 May, 2025

Lyft to buy FreeNow for €175m

Lyft to buy FreeNow for €175m

Ridesharing US company to enter the European market

Wed, 16 Apr, 2025

Heineken reports strong growth for Murphy's

Heineken reports strong growth for Murphy's

The brewing giant warned of ongoing volatility caused by uncertainty over global tariffs

Wed, 16 Apr, 2025

Insurance, payment and finance with old couple and documents for planning, budget and mortgage. Savings, taxes and retirement wi

Mortgage interest rates down slightly as banks 'slow' to pass on ECB cuts

Interest rate on new home loans was 3.79% on average at the end of February, down 0.03% from January and 0.5% down from the same month in 2024

Wed, 09 Apr, 2025