Vol. 524 No. 1
10 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she expects the Competition Authority to deal with new complaints lodged with it by the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21664/00]
I am aware that the authority's staffing has placed constraints on its capacity to deal with new complaints. However, I am fully committed to ensuring that it is adequately resourced to discharge its important statutory functions and I have taken measures to deal with the problems imposed by these constraints.
Some time ago I sanctioned five new posts at professional level in the authority and it now has an authorised staffing number of 29: five full-time members; 12 professional staff – five legal advisers and seven economists; and 12 clerical-administrative staff. Interviews for the vacant professional posts have been held and these will be filled shortly.
Furthermore, my Department, with the authority, is involved with outside consultants in a study of the authority's operations with a view to having its future resource requirements assessed. All staffing issues are being dealt with in the study and I intend to address any recommendations when the final report is to hand.
I am informed by the Competition Authority that it is, once again, examining new complaints and prioritising them for action. I am confident the situation in regard to dealing with complaints will continue to change for the better as the new staff currently being recruited take up their positions.
When this reply was given to the Minister by her civil servants did she not note that it is almost identical to the answers given on 12 May and 20 June? Does she not remember that on 12 May she said that the staffing position undoubtedly constrained the authority in discharging its functions, that steps had been taken to fill all the vacancies as quickly as possible and that a study had been initiated on the resource requirements? Does she remember that on 20 June she said that arrangements for the recruitment of economists were well advanced and that interviews had been held for legal advisers? Yet no progress has been made. Is it not time for a decision on these matters? We are in a time of inflation and this matter is adding to that.
Since last Easter there have been huge improvements in the resources approved for the authority. For a host of reasons much time has elapsed between the decision to increase the resources and the taking up of office of those who were sanctioned. Deputy Currie and I attended an event at the Competition Authority recently and, as the authority would acknowledge, resources have greatly improved. What I wanted to do was to assess the medium-term resource needs. That is the reason I asked Deloitte and Touche to speak to the authority and make an assessment. That is now to hand and it will determine the medium-term resource needs. One of the difficulties in a buoyant economy is that professional staff are being sought and paid higher levels of remuneration not only in the private sector but also in other public sector positions. Many of the staff who have left the authority have simply moved to other areas of public activity. In addition to staff numbers, there are issues to do with the rate at which staff are remunerated. We have satisfactorily resolved these issues. The new chairman, Mr. John Fingleton, who took up the position in the summer, is doing an outstanding job to resolve many of the difficulties and prioritise action for the authority.
Six months ago the Minister admitted that the activities of the Competition Authority were being constrained by the lack of staff and promised to do something about the matter quickly. It does not matter that she and I agree on the new chairman, the fact is that six months ago the activities of the authority were being constrained. They still are, if not more so. Given that inflation poses the main threat to the economy, resources should be made available immediately to tackle the problem.
My role is to obtain sanction for the appointment of staff and the allocation of resources to pay them. It is not my job to inter view staff; I am not the Civil Service Commission. I regret that it takes longer than one might wish for many reasons—
Four months ago—
The allocation of resources was approved by the Cabinet shortly after Easter. When we receive the Deloitte and Touche report there may be medium-term resource issues at which we will have to look, but the issue of the immediate resource needs of the authority was dealt with by the Cabinet shortly after Easter. This was communicated to the authority which then set about recruiting staff. I regret that it has taken longer than one might wish. Many of the new staff are now in situ, others will be in place soon.
Clearly, the Minister is making excuses. Does she agree that four months ago – she can only be judged against her own words and commitments – she said that the recruitment of the necessary economists was well advanced and that interviews had been held for the position of legal adviser? The staff concerned are not yet in place and the drive against inflation is being harmed as a result.
Some of the staff concerned are in place. I approved the allocation of resources shortly after Easter and this was communicated to the authority. It was then a matter for the authority, in conjunction with the Civil Service Commission, to recruit the individuals concerned. This is under way—
The positions are still vacant.
Five economists and two legal advisers.
We all wish that there was a closer correlation between the allocation of resources and the recruitment of staff, but in a buoyant market it takes much longer to recruit staff to public service positions in particular. There are difficulties in the recruitment of staff right across the public service at the levels of remuneration paid. This raises big issues for all sides of the House, but I am satisfied that the issue of the short-term resource needs of the authority has been dealt with. Any medium-term resource issues which arise will be dealt with following consideration of the Deloitte and Touche report.
The Minister said that six months ago.
