Vol. 547 No. 3
77 Mr. Finucane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to instruct the Competition Authority to undertake initiatives or inquiries in 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3361/02]
Under Section 11 of the Competition (Amendment) Act, 1996, the Competition Authority may study and analyse any practice or method of competition affecting the supply and distribution of goods or the provision of services. I have power under the same section to request the authority to carry out studies.
Under merger law, I can refer any notified proposal to the authority for investigation. However, each notified case is considered on its merits.
Currently, the authority is undertaking, at my request, a study on the operation of the Casual Trading Act, 1995. In addition, on its own initiative, the authority is currently engaged in a study of the following eight professions: medical practitioner, dentist, veterinary surgeon, optometrist, solicitor, barrister, architect and engineer.
The authority has just recently completed an investigation, under section 8 of the Mergers, Takeovers and Monopolies (Control) Act, 1978, into the proposed takeover by GEHE Ireland Limited of a number of pharmacy chains in the State. I am studying the results of their deliberations.
I do not have any immediate plans to ask the authority to undertake further studies or investigations.
Question No. 78 answered with Question No. 71.
Question No. 79 answered with Question No. 70.
Question 80 answered with Question No. 50. Question No. 81 answered with Question No. 56.
