Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes has said that the Irish legal system is failing consumers who frequently have to take separate legal actions to obtain their rights.

Hayes has called for legal reform to facilitate class action lawsuits in Ireland, saying it would increase judicial efficiency and make better use of court resources.

“The very existence of class action lawsuits could make businesses think twice before engaging in practices that may ultimately come before the courts. It could act as a strong preventative legal remedy.

“The tracker mortgage scandal is a case in point. Large numbers of people effectively defrauded could, together, have a much stronger case as a group, rather than individuals taking separate legal actions alone,” he said.

The MEP urged the Government to accept and pass the private members’ bill on multi-party action, which is currently before the Dáil.

Minority

“Ireland is an outlier in the EU when it comes to class-action legal provisions. We are firmly in the minority by comparison to others in the EU,” he said.Mr Hayes pointed out that consumers in Italy could bring collective action for claims related to standard contracts, non-contractual torts, unfair competition issues and unfair commercial practices.