Vol. 540 No. 1
131 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received submissions concerning the proposal by the Competition Authority to investigate architects' fees; her response to these submissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19622/01]
I am not aware of a proposal by the Competition Authority to investigate architects' fees. However, the Competition Authority recently announced a consultation process for a study of competition in a number of professions under the competition Acts and it has sought views and comment on the intended scope of the study. The authority has stated that it intends to study a range of restrictions such as barriers to entry, restraints on behaviour, and bans on advertising or seeking new business, that are common across several professions and that are supported within a statutory or regulatory framework. The restrictions on competition will be the primary focus and the authority has yet to decide on the terms of reference and the sectors for inclusion in the study.
