Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 128: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the collaborative system that is to be established between the National Competition Authority and the national regulators in each of the energy, telecommunications and aviation sectors. [37979/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I presume the deputy is referring to co-operation agreements between the Competition Authority and statutory bodies. Section 34 of the Competition Act, 2002 requires the Authority to enter into formal co-operation agreements with the regulators and I can confirm that such agreements are in place. The Authority currently has agreements with the following bodies:

Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI)

Commission for Electricity Regulation (CER)

Commission for Aviation regulation (CAR)

Director of Telecommunications Regulation (COMREG)

Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs (ODCA)

Health Insurance Authority (HIA).

The purpose of these agreements is to ensure the efficient use of resources and to improve co-operation and co-ordination of work between the Authority and the various bodies in the performance of their respective functions in so far as they relate to issues of competition between undertakings.