Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
521. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he will clarify whether the provisions of the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019 apply to benefits such as complimentary green fees provided as part of a paid golf club membership package; whether it is permissible for such benefits to expire within a period of less than 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35130/26]
View answerThe Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019 applies to gift vouchers that are provided as a substitute for money and can be used to pay for goods or services. The Act is intended to protect consumers who pay money upfront for vouchers or credits that hold value over time and can later be exchanged for goods or services.
Complimentary green fees that are provided as part of a paid golf club membership are generally considered a benefit of membership, rather than a gift voucher, where they form part of a wider package of membership entitlements and are not issued as a separate voucher or credit that can be used independently.
The Act does not generally apply to contractual benefits that arise as part of a broader membership agreement, where the benefit is personal to the member, time-limited by the nature of the membership, and does not represent stored monetary value.
In those circumstances, the provisions of the Gift Vouchers Act, including the requirement for a minimum five-year expiry period, do not normally apply. It is therefore permissible for such membership benefits to be subject to time limits linked to the duration of the membership, including expiry periods of less than 12 months.
Where a benefit is provided as a separate gift voucher, rather than as part of a membership package, the Act applies and the expiry rules set out in the legislation must be followed.
