Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the progress made regarding the commitment given in the Renewed Programme for Government to act on recommendations contained in reports of the Competition Authority within nine months of their publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24338/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The October 2009 Renewed Programme for Government committed the Government to act on recommendations contained in Competition Authority reports within nine months of their publication.

The recommendations made by the Competition Authority result from studies it carries out on various sectors or professions at regular intervals and usually contain a suite of recommendations, aimed at improving competition in the relevant area and are addressed to the responsible Government Department or body.

Following the above commitments given by the Government, my Department drew up an initial prioritised list of 21 recommendations, based on their impact on competitiveness. These 21 recommendations related, directly or indirectly, to five Government Departments.

The Government has reviewed the progress made by these Government Departments in responding to the 21 recommendations and a Government Statement to this effect issued in April 2010.

In the statement the Government also noted that 40% of the total number of recommendations made by the Competition Authority between 2000 and 2009 had been implemented, with a further 9% being progressed.

Since the review by Government earlier this year the Competition Authority has confirmed the following as the current position. Out of a total of 163 recommendations, 69 (42%) have been implemented with a further 13 (8%) recommendations currently being progressed.

The remaining number of recommendations (81 in total; 50%) can be classed as either not implemented; currently being considered by the relevant department or body; no longer relevant; not requiring action; or status unclear.

An exercise is currently underway to clarify the precise status of all of these 'outstanding' recommendations in order to facilitate decisions on whether to reject or pursue each remaining recommendation.

In line with a recent Government Decision, I intend to bring to Government twice-yearly updates on the implementation of these and any further recommendations made by the Competition Authority.

I should point out that since the October 2009 commitment contained in the Renewed Programme for Government, the Competition Authority has issued one report - in two parts - containing 2 recommendations. The report relates to GP services and of the two recommendations one has already been implemented with the remaining one currently being progressed.