THE COMPETITION Authority has said remarks made about it at the Oireachtas enterprise committee meeting were “inaccurate and unfair” and could hamper it in the performance of its duties.
In a letter to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, chairman of the authority William Prasifka requested an opportunity to appear before the committee.
The correspondence followed remarks made at a meeting of the committee last week in which the authority was likened to a skinhead organisation.
The committee had been highly critical of the authority for a number of its recent decisions including its challenge to attempts by the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland to freeze prices in pubs.
Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews had said the authority was like a “1980s skinhead organisation”.
“They go around intimidating people and are oblivious to the economic and social damage they are doing,” he said.
The chairman of the committee, Labour Party deputy Willie Penrose, had said some of the decisions taken by the authority were made “in an ivory tower” and they did not take into account the effect of those decisions on the ground.
In his letter to the committee, Mr Prasifka said he had read a report of the meeting in The Irish Times and had also studied the transcript. “A number of comments were made at the meeting which, in my view, were inaccurate and unfair and could seriously hamper the Competition Authority in the performance of its statutory duties and functions.”
He also noted the committee had asked the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for information on aspects of the authority’s work. “I would welcome an opportunity to meet with the committee to provide it with whatever additional information it requires first-hand and to address some of the issues that were raised by members of the committee.”
The committee is to write to Mr Prasifka suggesting a date for his appearance within the next two months.
Mr Andrews said he would welcome an opportunity to talk to the authority. There appeared to be a division between how they saw their remit and how politicians thought they should operate.
“I think this is something that will come to a head soon,” he said.
