Vol. 518 No. 5
45 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether the Competition Authority is capable of adequately discharging its functions within its present staffing complement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11974/00]
With the coming into force of the Competition (Amendment) Act, 1996, the authorised staff numbers at the Competition Authority were increased by around 50%. The current situation in regard to authorised numbers is that the authority is comprised of one full-time chairman, four full-time members, seven professional staff, that is two legal advisers and five economists, and 12 clerical-administrative staff. Over the past six months, the chairman and one full time member of the authority together with five professional staff, two legal advisers and three economists have resigned to take up alternative employment.
The present staffing situation undoubtedly constrains the authority in discharging its functions. However, steps have been taken to fill all the vacancies as quickly as possible. Dr. John Fingleton will take up appointment to fill the vacant post of chairman of the authority next month and Dr. Paul Gorecki will fill the vacant post of member of the authority in June. Both have been appointed following an open competitive interview process held earlier this year. The two vacancies for legal advisers and three for economists are being filled by competitions being held under the auspices of the Civil Service Commission. In addition, my Department, together with the authority, has now initiated a study of the authority's operations with a view to having the authority's future resource requirements assessed.
