asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement concerning the future role of the Fair Trade Commission as envisaged by the Minister for Defence speaking at the recent annual dinner of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce with particular reference to services given to the public including professional services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fair Trade Commission.
12.
It was announced in the Third Programme for Economic and Social Development that the Government had decided to expand the scope of the Restrictive Trade Practices Acts to embrace services as well as goods. The preparation of legislation is at an advanced stage and I hope to introduce in the next session a Bill to give effect to this decision and also to provide for changes in the institutional arrangements for the investigation of restrictive practices.
May I ask the Minister, in view of the much more explicit statement made by the Minister for Defence, if he would specify whether, in fact, the professional services referred to by the Minister for Defence will be included in that type of legislation? He referred to auctioneers' fees and various other aspects of professional services and now we are informed we must wait for legislation.
The statement made by the Minister for Defence was, to a great extent, a reiteration of the statement already made by the Minister for Industry and Commerce on the 16th February.
What services are involved?
Professional services.