Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that update. How can a consumer be protected when a powerful agency of the State that seeks to provide a service uses competition law to restrict the ability of those providing the service to negotiate their terms and conditions? That is what is happening, and not just in that particular case. I gather that it also applies to actors. A range of people who provide services join together in representative organisations. If they are workers, those organisations are called unions and can negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment. The other people in question are self-employed, but that is due to the professional make-up. They are providing an essential service to part of the State, yet the State is using its might and competition law to prohibit a level playing pitch. This is most definitely not in the interests of the consumer.