Vol. 535 No. 5
98 Ms Clune asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans she has to increase resources available to the Competition Authority in view of the recent comments by the OECD regarding the inadequate levels of resources provided at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13150/01]
Last year between May and October, a review by the con sultants, Deloitte and Touche, of the structure, operations, resource requirements, business processes and IT systems in the Competition Authority took place with a view to providing clear recommendations on the effectiveness and efficiency of the authority.
The review was also to provide an indication of necessary staffing levels and the final report contained a central recommendation that the staffing complement of the authority be increased to 44. Prior to the review the authorised complement was 24 and, following an interim report by the consultants, I increased the complement by two senior economists and three legal advisers to 29.
The 15 additional posts are recommended over a range of grades and within these it is recommended that three gardaí should be appointed to the Competition Authority to assist in its enforcement work.
My Department is in consultation with the Department of Finance in regard to the implementation of the staffing recommendations of the Deloitte and Touche report.
The OECD report on regulatory reform made reference, inter alia, to the question of resources for the Competition Authority and acknowledged that steps have been taken to bring the authority up to authorised staff levels.
