Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 24:

In page 66, before section 83, but in Chapter 5, to insert the following new section:

"83.—Section 42 of the Competition Act 2002 is amended—

(a) by the insertion of the following after subsection (2):

"(3) Within 2 months of the publication of a report under subsection (1), the Authority shall issue a report on the implications of State action for competition, including the identification of how the State has inhibited or prevented competition.

(4) All Government Departments and Agencies shall be obliged to respond to a report under subsection (3) within 30 days.,

and

(b) in subsection (3), by the substitution of "this section" for "subsection (1)".".

In keeping with the intention of the Bill, it is important that the authority be empowered or instructed to issue a report on the implications of State action for competition. We need to know if competition is inhibited or prevented. I am interested in hearing the Minister's views on this proposal.