Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Minister Richard Bruton has announced plans to overhaul legislation covering consumer rights.
He was speaking at the launch of the report of the Sales Law Review Group, which was set up to make recommendations on this issue.
Minister Bruton said new laws in the area would include a ban on excessive payment fees - which would prevent sellers from charging payment fees greater than the cost of processing the payment. He also plans to ban additional charges on consumers through "pre-ticked boxes".
Minister Bruton said he also planned a rule giving consumers the right to reject faulty goods within 30 days, adding that current rules in this area were complex and uncertain.
There would also be improvements in the rules governing internet purchases, including an increase from seven to 14 days in the time period in which consumers can withdraw from a contract.
The Minister said he intended to implement some of these changes by statutory instrument in advance of a comprehensive Consumer Rights Act.
Mr Bruton said much of current consumer law dated from the late 19th century and was "totally inappropriate" in the era of the smartphone and the large supermarket.
