Mr. Fergal O'Leary:

There will be legislation in this House in about a year's time. We are engaging very closely with our parent Department - the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation - as to what that legislation might look like. Obviously, we input into its policy decision. It is discussing scope with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. It involves how much of competition law will be involved. Will it be just European offences or will it cover Irish offences as well? Can there be any kind of retrospective assessment? I do not want to mislead the committee. Based on my experience, it is unlikely that when legislation comes in, it can be made retrospective.