Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she intends to take in regard to her comments at the recent conference in Dublin Castle, Promoting Competition for the Benefit of Consumers, that there are too many barriers to entry to the professions and that such impediments are costing the consumer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13812/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Competition Authority is studying the market for professional services and the study aims to identify any unnecessary or disproportionate restrictions to entry to the various professions under examination.

The authority engaged Indecon Economic Consultants to carry out initial work on the study which it published a report in 2003. The Indecon report found that there were three types of restriction common across the eight professions examined. Indecon found entry restrictions in seven of the eight professions examined comprising academic requirements, professional education and training requirements and character requirements. It also found that professions impose restrictions on the transfer of qualified practitioners from other countries into the Irish market. The eight professions under examination are engineers, architects, veterinarians, dentists, optometrists, medical practitioners, barristers, and solicitors. The authority intends to complete its study later this year.