Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail the impact of the Competition Authority in reducing costs to business and the consumer. [18629/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Competition has many benefits; it gives consumers more choice and better value for money, it encourages businesses to innovate by creating new and better products and services and, critically, it drives competitiveness and economic growth which results in job creation and retention, higher living standards and lower costs. The Competition Authority is the statutory independent body responsible for enforcing national and EU competition law in the State. In fulfilling this function it investigates suspected breaches of competition law and takes enforcement action where appropriate. The Authority also has a function to promote competition in the economy and it does so by, inter alia, studying areas of the economy to examine how competition is working and by identifying legislation and administrative practices that impact negatively on competition.

The Authority has carried out detailed market studies into a number of sectors of the economy to establish how competition is working in those sectors and to identify any restrictions that hinder competition. In this context the Authority has made recommendations, addressed to relevant Government Ministers, aimed at removing barriers or restrictions to competition within the sectors. The Authority is currently examining how competition is working in the ports sector in Ireland and it has previously examined aspects of banking and insurance, the retail planning guidelines, the import/distribution sector and a number of professions including the legal profession, GPs, and architects.

Whether it is through the elimination of anti-competitive behaviour such as price-fixing and other cartel-like practices or through effect been given to Competition Authority recommendations the result is a more competitive and innovative environment with lower costs and greater job opportunities.