The Irish Farmers' Association confirmed yesterday that it had lodged a complaint with the Competition Authority whose officials raided the offices of the Irish Veterinary Union on Wednesday, investigating the alleged fixing of animal test fees.
Mr Pat Massey, director of the authority, would not confirm that his staff had acted on an IFA complaint lodged with his office last July.
"We cannot comment on specific cases. When we prepare a case, we go to a District Court and get a warrant to search premises as we are entitled to do under the 1996 Act," he said.
Mr Massey rejected complaints by the general secretary of the veterinary union, Mr Pat Brady, about the raid and the examination of private files over five hours at Kenilworth Square, Rathmines.
Mr Brady had also complained that women in the office had been terrified by the arrival of the seven men, who left with 174 documents relating to charges for bovine TB testing.
"We acted within the law," Mr Massey said.
In a statement on the raid, the chairman of the IFA's national animal health committee, Mr Liam Egan, said the question of fixing IVU rates for TB testing began when the privatised scheme was introduced in April 1996. He was satisfied the authority's investigations were taking their normal course.
Last night Mr Brady said he would be asking the ICTU to look at the legislation covering the authority because of the difficulties it could present to trade unions. He said any union negotiating a rate for its members might find itself visited by the authority.
"The NUJ, when negotiating rates for freelances, for instance, might well be accused by the newspaper owners of price-fixing," he said.