James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I have experience of the former Competition Authority prior to my time in politics. The Competition Authority was the predecessor to the CCPC. The answer to my first question should be "Yes". Does the CCPC monitor the activity of producer organisations to ensure competition law is being adhered to? If so, how? What criteria does it use? On the beef and agriculture sectors generally, does the commission believe they should make greater use of producer organisation models as it has described?

Is the commission happy it has sufficient powers to deal with cartels that might operate in various sectors? Clearly there is often a sense among producers that they are at the mercy of a small number of businesses that can dictate price and the market.

I want to move completely away from that area to a matter that has always been of concern to me. Has the commission ever investigated the true cost of hearing aids and the hearing aid market and the cost of producing a hearing aid versus the price that is charged to the consumer? That price is often subsidised by the State. Does the CCPC have a view on the fact that the audiologist who carries out the hearing assessment is also the person selling the product? I know there are similarities between opticians and the sale of visual aids such as glasses, but the costs are considerably at variance.

I do not expect them to have comprehensive answers to these questions to hand and, therefore, I would like to get them in writing later if the witnesses do not mind. I apologise that I have to leave to go to the Seanad.