John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

The Ombudsman can be called before Oireachtas committees to report on particular matters. In addition, the Ombudsman is obliged to appear before the relevant committee to comment on her annual report. It is not the position, therefore, that reports are being left to gather dust. The commitment relates to progressing cases. However, the 39 staff of the Competition Authority are operating in the context of limited resources. I advise the Deputy to arrange for the relevant committee to invite the Ombudsman to come before it in order that he might raise with her the point he has made on reports being left to gather dust. That is not the position. If the Ombudsman does come before the relevant committee, the Deputies opposite could challenge her on the issue they have raised regarding the price of concrete. It is not the case that the Competition Authority and the Ombudsman are unaccountable. They are, in fact, accountable to the Oireachtas through its committees.

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