Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her proposals for the merger of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency; the savings she expects will be made as a result; when she expects the process to be completed; if legislation will be required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44906/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the merging of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority was announced in the recent Budget. Since then my Department has being working in conjunction with both bodies and the Department of Finance 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.