asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he is satisfied that the agencies for dealing with restrictive practices, the Restrictive Practices Commission and the Examiner of Restrictive Practices, are functioning satisfactorily; and, if not, the action he proposes to take on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Restrictive Practices Agencies.
14.
The existing functions of the Restrictive Practices Commission and the Examiner of Restrictive Practices are being carried out satisfactorily by them. However, there is considerable scope, particularly by means of new institutional arrangements, for strengthening the administration of competition policy generally. This matter was dealt with in some detail in the national plan, in paragraphs 3.18 to 3.22. Work is proceeding in my Department on this matter and I expect to be in a position to submit appropriate proposals to the Government in the near future.
Will the Minister agree that in many cases years elapse between the time the complaint is made to the examiner and the commission commences its examination?
I certainly do. If there was a proposal designed to achieve maximum delay in taking action it would be difficult to improve on our restrictive practices code. In the first place the examiner examines the matter and presents a report which, in turn, is presented to the commission who hold hearings on it. They, in turn, present it to the Minister who alone can act on it, having consulted his Government colleagues. To my mind that procedure is not conductive to dealing effectively with competition policy and that is precisely why we want to reform it. I am glad to say that the proposals for this matter are with me at the moment for transmission in the near future to my Cabinet colleagues.
I would ask the Minister to deal with this as quickly as possible because this has been dragging on for some time.
I will deal with it as quickly as possible because this is an area in which I am very interested and the sooner we get change here the better.