Since the enactment of the Competition (Amendment) Act, 1996 the authorised staff complement in the Competition Authority has increased from 17 to 24 comprising one full time chairman, four full time members, seven professional staff – two legal advisers and five economists – and 12 clerical-administrative staff. Over the past 12 months, the chairman and one member of the authority together with six professional staff – two legal advisers and four economists – resigned to take up alternative employment.
There are two economists employed in the authority at present, one of whom commenced in August and the other in November last. A legal adviser is employed on a contract basis. Competitions are currently under way under the auspices of the Civil Service Commission to fill the professional posts. The conditions for these posts have been improved by offering permanent positions for both economists and legal advisers and a higher salary range in the case of the legal adviser. Of the three serving members of the authority, one is an economist who is widely regarded as a leading authority on competition matters, another has extensive experience in business and the third has extensive experience in administration, particularly in matters of commercial law.
As previously announced, Dr. John Fingleton, a highly respected economist who has specialised in competition matters, will take up appointment as chairman of the authority next month, on 3 May I understand. Dr. Paul Gorecki, who is also an economist with experience both in the academic world and in enforcing competition law will take up appointment as a member of the authority in June. Both are being appointed for the maximum period of five years.
