David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will finish on this point. I do not want to hold the House up because we have many amendments to get through. When we had a similar discussion recently in the context of another Bill, I made the point that in the EU, competition seems to trump everything. It is seen as the Holy Grail and everything else - protection of workers' rights and investment in public services - seems to come a poor second. There is an increasing encroachment on what we would see as citizens' rights. The move towards the liberalisation of public services is another example of the trend coming from Europe. We seem to be dancing to their tune. In my view, their analysis of competition is very rigid. I have already criticised the Competition Authority in this regard. I do not expect the Minister to come back to me on these points. He has already given the House a comprehensive overview of this amendment, which I intend to press to a vote.