THE Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs has written this week to all major tour operators querying information in their summer holiday brochures.
Director Mr William Fagan has asked operators to give him proof that the flights they advertise exist.
A public battle of the brochures has raged in the newspapers and in travel agents' shops. The main protagonists are Budget Holidays, newcomers Thomson Holidays and Falcon Holidays, which have taken over the package holiday business known as JWT. All are owned by UK groups.
This week Budget placed newspaper advertisements which cast doubt on Thomson's ability to provide flights and offering to accept deposits paid to Thomson in part payment of Budget holidays to encourage customers to switch.
Mr Fagan was concerned at suggestions that Thomson had not signed contracts with an airline for flights advertised in its brochure.
As it owns a leading British charter airline, Britannia, Thomson claims there is no need for worry about aircraft availability.
The Office of Consumer Affairs has contacted the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), which has raised several issues with Mr Fagan on behalf of its members.
The Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs will this year enforce the Package Holidays and Travel Trade Act, 1995, which became law in October, and the EU (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts) regulations, 1995.
Mr Fagan has welcomed Thomson's arrival on the Irish market and says competition is good for the consumer.
A spokeswoman for the director's office said they were being "pro active" in relation to the brochure inquiry and that it had begun before the controversy over Thomson.
The ITAA, at its request, met the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Emmet Stagg, on January 25th.
It told Mr Stagg of its fears of an oversupply of package holidays in the travel trade market.
According to a spokeswoman, Mr Stagg is now investigating the number of sun holidays being offered by the tour operators.
If the situation merits it, the ITAA will meet the major companies involved to discuss the matter with them.