Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

I compliment Deputy Hogan for tabling this motion. Reform of the Competition Act is long overdue and the Competition Authority needs to be assessed to establish its effectiveness, to determine if it is adequately funded with the resources to complete investigations within an acceptable timescale. In a nutshell, the authority must be effective, properly funded and have the necessary investigative powers. If rated under these criteria now, the authority would score very poorly.

Several months ago, the nation was enthralled by the Eddie Hobbs programme, "Rip-Off Republic". As a member of the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business, I thought I would have to get an early flight from Galway to be on time to witness the humiliation of Eddie Hobbs by the chairman of the committee, Deputy Cassidy. Like everything else, it never happened. Deputy Cassidy became the best PR person for Eddie Hobbs and in the process brought the committee into the murky pond of party politics. For several months, the committee focused on the groceries order. It took the unanimous view that it should be retained. Imagine my surprise when the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced he was abolishing it. Or did he? What is the current condition of the groceries order? Is it a case of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, wanting it eliminated and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, being forced to oblige and defy his own party's Deputies? They had told the nation they supported the order's retention. Is it instead a typical fudge, where nobody, including the Minister, knows the exact story of the groceries order?

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