Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Minister for Finance has been outlining the Government position on the second matter Deputy Gilmore has raised in an earlier programme.

With regard to the questions raised by Deputy Kenny on the question of outsourcing and using private companies for the purposes of training programmes, to work in partnership is a good thing, although there have been some recent controversies in this regard where the certification processes were not what they should have been. The question of proper oversight when other agents act on behalf of statutory authorities for the provision of training is again an important aspect of regulation. Work cannot simply be farmed out without the statutory authority being in a position to properly oversee it and ensure that standards are being maintained and regulated.

With regard to the Competition Authority, there have been a number of interim reports in respect of certain professions and some of the recommendations have been acted upon. I understand the final is due in the middle of next year. Any specific regulatory matters raised which are the responsibility of particular Ministers, should elicit replies from them through the parliamentary question procedure.

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