Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 188: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the date, in regard to the decision announced in budget 2009 to amalgamate the national Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, by which this amalgamation will be achieved; if legislation will be required to give affect to this decision; if so, when this legislation will be published; if savings are anticipated from this decision in 2008, 2009 and 2010; the breakdown of these savings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39331/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since the announcement in the budget by my colleague the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan TD, of the merging of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, my Department has being working in conjunction with both bodies to bring about a smooth transition to a unified single body to oversee the area of competition and consumer protection.

As both the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority were established under statute, it will be necessary to give effect to the newly merged body by way of primary legislation. Whilst I am committed to introducing this legislation as soon as possible, it is not possible at this early stage to give a precise date as to when the necessary legislation will be published. Similarly, whilst it is expected that the synergies arising from the merger of the two bodies will result in savings to the exchequer, particularly in areas such as shared services, it is not possible to precisely quantify the amount of savings involved at this stage.