Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

I join others in welcoming the Minister of State to the House. I welcome this Competition (Amendment) Bill 2010. As the Minister said in his contribution, it is short but important legislation to give the appropriate authority to the Minister to ensure the board of the Competition Authority has the adequate numbers to allow them continue their work.

At no time in our history is the issue of competition and our competitiveness as important as it is today. It is vital that all appropriate ministerial powers are in place to ensure the authority is in a position to continue its work and to do it effectively. In that respect, the Minister highlighted several areas of particular concern which, if this legislation is not expedited and passed through the Houses quickly, would impinge on the authority's ability to do its work and call into question some of the actions it may take, leaving it open to legal challenges and other risks.

The Minister also outlined a number of points on the forthcoming legislation to deal with the amalgamation of the authority and the National Consumer Agency. I would welcome a more full debate on those in the coming months when that legislation is brought forward.

A number of Members mentioned the area of retailing, and I am conscious of the renowned and respected expertise of Senator Quinn. We would always listen to his views but I am conscious that in the Border counties, with the proximity to Northern Ireland and a regime with a different minimum wage, a different taxation system and a lower value added tax regime, a level playing field does not exist. The Minister might reflect between now and bringing forward that legislation on whether measures could be put in place which would give the appropriate cognisance and attention to the clear disadvantage faced by retailers in that jurisdiction. We must have a level playing field and open competition in this jurisdiction but some people are more equal than others in the context of the difficulties the retailers in the six Border counties have had to contemplate and negotiate in these most difficult times.

I do not want to delay the House. As others have said, this is a short Bill. There is nothing to oppose within it. I commend the Bill to the House and look forward to Committee and Report Stages.