Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. I will have to leave at 10 a.m. but I will be back.

Can Ms McNamara elaborate about the qualified entities that will be allowed to bring this representative action? It has been mooted that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, is likely to be a qualified entity for the State. Will there be only one or does Ms McNamara envisage that there could or will be more qualified entities? It is contained in head 16 but when I read it, it was not crystal clear.

In the case that it is only the CCPC, we have had legislation already to give the CCPC additional powers. We do not want a situation whereby it has all of the additional powers and the additional responsibilities but does not have the necessary resources. We will need to have the two as well. In the event that it is only the CCPC, would Ms McNamara be confident that it will be resourced or will there be more qualified entities?