The Competition Authority's cartel-watcher en chef, Pat Massey, hasn't quite sought a military solution to price-fixing, but he came close last week.

Describing the merits of an immunity programme for corporate conspirators who tell all about their dark deeds, he said such a scheme - now likely - was crucial in the war against criminal cartels.

So important would the scheme be, that the authority would engage in tank warfare - a la second World War - as distinct from the trench combat enabled by its existing powers.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Jim Hamilton, was alive to the talk of heavy combat. Urging restraint, he said he might send a copy of the Geneva Convention to Massey. Always one for gentlemanly conduct in war, the Margin couldn't agree more.