Vol. 489 No. 2
21 Mr. Stagg asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the intentions, if any, she has of amending the Competition Act, 1991, to allow unions to collectively bargain on behalf of freelance journalists. [7677/98]
The Competition and Mergers Review Group which was established by my predecessor in September 1996 is currently reviewing, among other matters, the existing competition legislation and associated regulations. I do not intend to bring forward any amendments to the existing legislation until I have had an opportunity to consider the report and recommendations of the review group, which I expect to receive later this year.
The Competition and Mergers Review Group is chaired by Mr Michael Collins, SC and is composed of representatives of IBEC, ICTU, ISME, the Consumers Association of Ireland, the Bar Council and the Law Society. It also includes representatives of my Department, the Attorney General's office, and a specialist in economics from UCD.
The following are the terms of reference of the group: "To review and make recommendations on — The mergers legislation in the context of a legislative consolidation; The effectiveness of competition legislation and associated regulations; Cultural matters in the context of the 1991 Act and in particular section 4(2) of that Act; and, Appropriate structures for implementing the above legislation. "
