Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

It is all the same issue. I do not intend to waste people's time by introducing three or four items of legislation when the best approach may be to introduce a single Bill. I am very cognisant of the existence of EU competition law and of the fact that my decisions must be made in that context, with advice from the Attorney General. Arising from the discussions with the IMO, I gave a political undertaking to amend the Competition Act. I stand over that commitment. We are dealing with a complex item of legislation. At the moment, I am trying to determine whether it would be best to incorporate the issues arising from the IMO decision in the existing legislation or to introduce additional legislation. My preferred option is to have one piece of legislation which would facilitate the review, the new instruments I wish to introduce and the amalgamation of the two authorities. I will speak to the Deputy privately once I have made that determination.

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