Vol. 544 No. 3
92 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to increase competition by dismantling regulatory regimes particularly anti-competitive licensing schemes for taxis, pubs, the professions, groceries and pharmacies. [28611/01]
The regulatory regimes mentioned in the question other than groceries are the responsibility of other Ministers.
However, in my capacity as Minister responsible for competition policy, I strongly encourage Ministers to examine any regulatory regimes within their areas of responsibility with a view to eliminating any anti-competitive provisions they might contain. Regulation should only exist where it is needed to achieve important public policy objectives such as public safety, public health or environmental protection and it should be proportionate to these objectives.
In so far as the sectors mentioned are concerned, entry to the taxi trade has been liberalised following court action in 2000 and the number of taxi plates has substantially increased in the past year.
In the area of liquor licensing, the Commission on Liquor Licensing is continuing its work and it has already produced an interim report on off-licences.
