"Competition Authority to get Significant Additional Resources" - Tánaiste Competition Authority Chairman Appointed Director of Competition Enforcement

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Mary Harney TD has today (Thursday 8 June 2000) announced that the Competition Authority is to receive a significant increase in its professional staffing level.

The Tánaiste also announced that the new Chairman of the Authority, Dr John Fingleton, has been appointed as Director of Competition Enforcement.

Arrangements for the recruitment of three economists arising from a recent competition as well advanced and interviews are to be held shortly for two Legal Advisors. These appointments are being made to fill vacancies which arose in recent months as a result of the staff concerned opting to take up alternative employment.

In addition, the Tánaiste also announced that, following the submission of interim conclusions by consultants who are studying the Authority’s future staffing needs, she has approved the employment of five additional professional staff by the Authority – two economists and three lawyers - and recruitment will begin soon.

This will bring the Authority’s authorised staffing level to 29 including five lawyers and seven economists.

"This is clear evidence of my determination to ensure that the Authority is adequately resourced to discharge its important statutory functions," the Tánaiste said.

The Tánaiste’s decision to appoint Dr Fingleton to the position of Director of Competition Enforcement follows the request in February last by the current Director, Pat Massey, to be relieved of the position. Mr Massey remains on as a Member of the Authority.

The Tánaiste said "Mr Massey was the Authority’s first Director of Competition Enforcement and I believe that the energetic way in which he developed the Director’s role and the standards which he set will serve the Authority well in the future."

Meanwhile, another new Member of the Authority, Dr Paul Gorecki will assume his appointment within the next week.