Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Perhaps they have not had litigation taken against them. I am not here to defend the Competition Authority, which acts in its own role. It has completed major studies and has been involved in serious dialogue on restrictive practices, unfair competition and limited access to professions with all the major sectors. It is going through what I accept is a very long process involving various stages but what it has done in the insurance sector and is endeavouring to do in the legal and pharmacy sectors is increase competition.

On the Deputy's question as to whether more action is needed, yes it is and perhaps the authority can start bringing cases because it seems reluctant to commence legal action rather than use its powers of persuasion to conduct analyses of these industries and drive down prices through the strength of the case it makes. That is the attitude it has adopted and it is not for me to criticise or defend it. In the past few years, it has produced major studies on how these professions work, how they use their cost bases and the areas which can drive down prices by allowing for more access and competition. It has proved it is possible to do that in the professions, particularly in respect of the insurance sector where we have seen dramatic changes.

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