Mr Pat Massey has stepped down with the Competition Authority five months ahead of schedule. He is taking leave of absence for the remainder of his contract to pursue "academic interests".

Appointments to the authority are made by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Ms Harney. Mr Massey's contract was up for renewal at the end of September. He had been with the competition body for 10 years.

He carried the joint responsibilities of director of competition enforcement and director of cartel enforcement until last year when he resigned the former.

In his resignation letter, Mr Massey cited "wholly inadequate resources" for investigations into alleged cartels. Subsequently Ms Harney made some resources available to the new chairman Dr John Fingleton, who also assumed the position of director of competition enforcement vacated by Mr Massey.

Five new positions have since been filled bringing the authority's workforce to 29.

Mr Massey retained his position of director of cartel enforcement until yesterday when he was replaced by Dr Paul Gorecki who joined the authority last June.