Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I support the comments made. I also note the new chief executive officer of the Competition Authority, Mr. Declan Purcell, did extraordinary work some 18 years ago on the consolidated companies legislation, the most difficult ever dealt with in this House. It has lasted 18 years and the Department is now working on amending it. As it happens, six months ago the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, promised the House the amending legislation would be introduced this spring, but it has now been put back to the autumn. Mr. Purcell was involved in all of the significant changes to company law at a time when companies were sprouting like mushrooms overnight with different names and addresses and abusing the principles of limited liability. I have complete confidence in him in the job he is doing with the authority and I am sure he will outshine his predecessors. He will bring common-sense practicality to his post which is necessary for the consumer.