Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 9, lines 5 and 6, to delete “a competent authority” and substitute “an adjudication officer”.

The amendments I am proposing are very straightforward. They are technical amendments - some deleting a word, some adding a word and some clarifying small typographical mistakes. These amendments are not policy driven; they are merely tidying up the draft. Amendment No. 5 changes the words "a competent authority" to "adjudication officer", because enforcement proceedings are heard by an adjudication officer specifically and not by any other function within a competent authority.

Amendment No. 27 clarifies that a referral is made to an adjudication officer in line with section 15M. Amendment No. 31 reflects that "settlement" is the more usual term used in respect of agreements reached with an undertaking in competition matters, and this is changed throughout the Bill.

Amendment No. 33 is intended to clarify that when making a referral to an adjudication officer, the competent authority has come to a preliminary opinion on foot of its investigation and reflects that it is only the adjudication officer who will make a decision on the outcome of the investigation. All of these amendments are aimed at clarifying the meaning of the sections and ensuring that the Bill reaches the high standards that this Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas are committed to upholding.