Consumer Council unveils six-year plan to strengthen consumer protection across Northern Ireland

The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland has launched a new six-year strategy aimed at strengthening consumer protection, tackling affordability pressures and ensuring people have a greater say in decisions affecting their everyday lives.

The organisation’s Corporate Plan for 2026–2032 sets out five strategic priorities covering consumer representation, affordability, inclusion, sustainability and empowerment.

The plan was unveiled at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on Wednesday 21 October, bringing together representatives from government, regulators, industry and consumer organisations.

Consumer Council plan focuses on five key priorities

The new strategy is built around five priorities, collectively known as the Five Lives, which aim to address the challenges facing consumers across Northern Ireland.

These are:

• Represented Lives – ensuring consumers, particularly those from marginalised or underrepresented communities, have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting them.
• Affordable Lives – helping people afford essential goods and services while promoting fairer markets.
• Inclusive Lives – improving access to essential services regardless of income, location or personal circumstances.
• Sustainable Lives – supporting consumers and communities as they move towards more sustainable ways of living.
• Empowered Lives – ensuring people have the knowledge, confidence and support to challenge unfair treatment and seek appropriate remedies.

The Consumer Council says the priorities reflect the interconnected challenges facing households, including rising living costs, increasingly complex markets and barriers to accessing essential services.

Tackling affordability and protecting consumer rights

The Consumer Council is Northern Ireland’s independent statutory consumer representative body.

Its responsibilities cover areas including energy, water, transport, postal services, financial services and food affordability.

The organisation provides advice, investigates complaints, conducts research and represents consumer interests in policy and regulatory decisions.

Under the new plan, it intends to expand its research, communications and outreach activities while strengthening partnerships with organisations across Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Europe.

The strategy also places an emphasis on ensuring that evidence gathered from consumers influences decisions made by government, regulators and service providers.

Economy Minister welcomes six-year strategy

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald welcomed the publication of the Corporate Plan, highlighting the importance of consumer representation in economic decision-making.

She said consumers were central to the economy and that their experiences should help shape the decisions affecting them.

The Minister added that stronger evidence and consumer representation could contribute to fairer markets and better outcomes for people across Northern Ireland.

The launch event brought together senior representatives from consumer protection and regulatory organisations, including Consumer Scotland and the Financial Conduct Authority’s Financial Services Consumer Panel.

Consumer Council pledges to strengthen its influence

Noyona Chundur, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council, said the new plan had been developed using evidence and feedback from consumers, partners and stakeholders.

She emphasised that consumer protection and economic growth should be viewed as complementary priorities.

The organisation intends to strengthen collaboration, expand its research and outreach work, and respond to changes in markets and consumer needs over the next six years.

The Consumer Council also plans to invest in its workforce and demonstrate value for public funding.

What the new plan means for Northern Ireland consumers

The six-year strategy establishes the Consumer Council’s priorities rather than introducing immediate changes to consumer law or announcing new financial support schemes.

Its intended impact will be reflected in how the organisation represents consumers, investigates problems and influences decisions affecting essential services.

For households experiencing difficulties with energy costs, transport services, financial pressures or consumer complaints, the Consumer Council will continue to provide information, advice and support.

The full Corporate Plan for 2026–2032 is available through the Consumer Council’s official website.

Other news: Northern Ireland small businesses reveal toll of rising energy costs in new research

External link: Consumer Council — Corporate Plan 2026–2032