John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

For clarification, Ms O'Leary said the commission was very active in the insurance sector and that, as part of its work, the Competition Authority had undertaken a major study in 2005 which recommended greater disclosure of risk related data because a lack of data acted as a barrier to entry. That is exactly what we have heard since we started these hearings. Is it not anti-competitive to withhold information and not to disclose it to possible entrants to the market? Is this not also the case when individuals in the market can obtain it for €120,000? If somebody is active in the market, they will know that the recommendation the authority made was not acted on. They will know that, for a fee, a member or associate member of Insurance Ireland can get the information. However the information is compiled, its owners are selective about it.