Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 5

Written Answers - Petrol Market.

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

54 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the intentions, if any, she has of requesting the Competition Authority to review competitive practices in the petrol market following recent moves by the Competition Authority in relation to competitive practices in the natural gas industry. [16725/97]

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

The Competition (Amendment) Act, 1996, was signed into law in 1996. This Act, inter alia, provides for public enforcement of the rules of competition and a Director of Competition Enforcement has been appointed to the Competition Authority to give effect to the public enforcement provisions.

In addition, the Competition Authority now has the power of self-initiative in matters such as that raised by the Deputy consequent on the enactment of the 1996 Act.

I have drawn the authority's attention to the Deputy's question in this regard.