Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

The Order of Business is agreed as far as we are concerned. I wish to raise the issue of a report published yesterday by the Competition Authority regarding anti-competitive practices in up to eight professions. I understand there will be further studies. This is part of on-going work by the Competition Authority, which engaged economic consultants to produce the report. It found very significant anti-competitive restrictions in some of the professions. The report points out that the extent of the restrictions in the legal and medical professions in particular is "really very remarkable and has the effect of damaging consumer interests".

The Competition Authority has stated that these issues should be addressed as a priority. According to an amazing report in one of today's newspapers, the costs of services could be reduced by 20% to 30%. This is a matter for further study, but it is clearly a subject worthy of further debate in this House, and I recommend strongly to the Leader that we be allowed an early opportunity to debate the Competition Authority report.