Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

If the Minister answered the question he was asked, which was what he believed were the unwarranted constraints on competition, we might get some information. The Minister has the same document that I have and he has read extracts from it. The recently published document states that the intensity of local competition and the efficiency of competition legislation are perceived as being low. Does the Minister accept that Irish entrepreneurs are experiencing difficulty in obtaining low-risk finance and that we still have a low level of research and development investment? Would he also accept the difficulties outlined in the OECD report on higher education as they relate to an enterprise economy? Will the Minister outline what he intends to do about these issues and other issues outlined in the report of the National Competitiveness Council?

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