Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Hogan has criticised the fact the authority has taken on the Irish League of Credit Unions. I stated we are studying the Supreme Court judgment. It is only by its careful consideration that one could make observations in terms of future actions.

The authority is independent. We should equally point out that many settlements are made before the proceedings ever get to court, when companies or various interested parties agree to settle or to remedy their anti-competitive behaviour. There is no great desire to force cases through to the High Court and to the Supreme Court because that clearly involves risks, of which no doubt the Competition Authority is as much aware as anybody else, but given the nature of the independent authority we established to endeavour to create a greater competitive environment in Ireland, it is inevitable there will be risks associated with pursuing some of these issues through the courts. People in other sectors need to know the authority is prepared to go that route even if it must make judgments along the way.

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