Thank you for visiting our site.

It is my great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to you on behalf of the Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI). I sincerely hope that you benefit from your visit and from the services and links that the site has to offer.

By way of introduction let me state that the Consumers' Association is Ireland's independent, self-funded and non-profit organisation, founded in 1966 and registered with charity status.

Its members are ordinary consumers from areas spread right across the country who see the need for and who support such an organisation.

Each year those members are invited to nominate and elect a Council of 20 who will represent the Association. Those Council members appoint a Chairperson and Officers and act as lobbyists and spokespersons in their various areas of expertise. It is especially noteworthy that they give voluntarily of their time and expertise.

They are supported by myself together with eight staff members, (five of whom would be directly involved in the research and in-house production of the Associations magazine Consumer Choice and product test research).

For over 40 years now, the CAI has strenuously represented and fought to protect and strengthen the rights of its members and all Irish consumers. The achievements have been considerable. Consumers' rights - the right to information, fair dealing, protection, education - all culminating in the ability to make informed decisions and choices - are a reality.

We have long been calling for Government recognition of our crucial role through the provision of some core funding. That recognition has come in the form of an annualallowance of €63,000 since 2001. The current income derived from our members' subscriptions is insufficient to permit us to lobby as we should and the need for determined lobbying and input at home, in Europe and increasingly, internationally, is vital for the future of consumer protection.

We will prevail - of that there is no question - but, to grow is our goal and I hope that you will consider supporting and joining with us in order that we might go forward forcefully and grow quickly. Then we can benchmark and demand the better protection, the clearer transparency and the proper ethical standards - from a position of strength - supported by the majority of consumers - for the benefit of all consumers. We need your support.

Dermott Jewell
(Chief Executive)