Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I wish first to reply to the Minister of State. I fully understand why the Minister of State, who was probably asked at very short notice, would rely on the notes given by officials and I have no qualms with that. However, the reply appears to have been constructed by someone swotting over and trying to find gaps or a comma missing in the legislation and to come up with some excuse why the Department could not accept this level of public scrutiny for nominees or appointees. It is grasping at straws to suggest the proposal might not be legal and one could say that about anything. It would be perfectly legal if the House adopted it as would the Fine Gael amendments. They would be within the bounds of the House were there a decision made to accept them.

The previous Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, stated on Committee Stage that at least he would be keen to vigorously contest the Competition Authority. I am keen for the Minister of State to vigorously contest it because the experience to date has been that the Competition Authority has some flaws. It is satisfied to go after the smaller fish while allowing the bigger people to swim freely. That is grossly unfair.

Our committee has spent significant amounts of time examining the retail sector. One British-based operation in particular seems to get away with riding a coach and ten through the legislation but the Competition Authority has not gone after that retailer. I do not say as much because it is British-based and I hold anti-British sentiment, but I say so objectively and that is the observation I have made in respect of our examination of the retail sector as a committee and vis-À-vis the Competition Authority's unenthusiastic pursuit of that sector and some of the larger cartels we would have preferred it to go after.

I do not see much point in delaying the business of the House and I am aware from the Order of Business that there are a substantial number of pressing matters, not least the issue of children's reports and the allocation of time to discuss those matters. I am not going to delay the House unnecessarily on the issue. I hold a very strong view on it but I also recognise that the Department and the Minister are not for turning in respect of these amendments. That is a huge missed opportunity for the Government to offer some kind of transparency and accountability in these matters. I withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, with drawn.

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