Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:41 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if all the outstanding vacancies in the Competition Authority have been filled; and if not, the reason therefor. [3063/01]
Written Answers. - Competition Authority.
Brendan Howlin
Ceist:43 Mr. Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has yet concluded her consideration of the consultant's report on staffing requirements in the Competition Authority; her plans to address staff shortages in the authority in the interim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3000/01]
Alan Shatter
Ceist:78 Mr. Shatter asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she will appoint gardaí to the Competition Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2014/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 43 and 78 together.
There are currently four vacancies in the Competition Authority. One is for a legal adviser and three are at administrative level. A competition will be held for the legal adviser position and the administrative staff will be assigned to the authority in the normal way by internal transfer within the staffing supplement of my Department, as soon as possible. There have been difficulties in recruiting administrative staff generally for the Civil Service and my Department and other Departments are experiencing some delays in filling such positions.
Last year between May and October, a review by the consultants, Deloitte and Touche, of the structure, operations, resource requirements, business processes and IT systems in the Competition Authority took place with a view to providing clear recommendations on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Competition Authority.
The review was also to provide an indication of necessary staffing levels and the final report contained a central recommendation that the staffing complement of the authority be increased to 44. Prior to the review, the authorised complement was 24 and following an interim report by the consultants, I increased the complement by two senior economists and three legal advisers to 29.
The 15 additional posts are recommended over a range of grades and within these it is recom mended that three gardaí should be appointed to the Competition Authority to assist in its investigatory functions.
I am currently considering the overall body of recommendations made in the report and I will finalise my position in due course.