Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation when he will be bringing forward proposals to end restrictions on competition in the legal, medical, accountancy and other sheltered sectors of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9945/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Competition Authority has published a number of reports resulting from studies it carried out on various sectors or professions since 2004. The reports usually contain a suite of recommendations aimed at improving competition in the relevant area and are addressed to the responsible Department or body. Such reports have included the medical and legal professions.

Given the responsibility of my Department for competition policy in general, I will be reporting to Government shortly on the progress achieved by a number of Departments in the implementation of these recommendations. However, it should be noted that responsibility for any proposals aimed at ending apparent restrictions on competition in a particular sector rests with the Minister with responsibility for that particular policy area. For example, policy proposals concerning the legal and medical sectors are matters for my colleagues, the Ministers for Justice and Equality and Health and Children, respectively.

I am not aware of any restrictions on competition in the accountancy profession. There is however a strong preference in the market for the services of the big four audit firms. This is a feature worldwide and arises from the range and depth of their skills. The European Commission's Green Paper on Audit proposes various ways to address the issue, including mandatory collaboration between Tier 1 and Tier 2 audit practices. My Department will participate in any negotiations on these issues at EU level and will implement any regulations or directives, as appropriate, consequent on the Green Paper.