Competition body hits back at critics

THE body charged with policing anti-competitive practices has rejected criticism of its probe into the Irish insurance market.

The Competition Authority dismissed claims by Kerry Fine Gael senator Paul Coghlan that its findings on the insurance industry were "half-baked" and that they failed to tackle the main reasons for high insurance costs.

Senator Coghlan said the Competition Authority's report, which was published last month, placed too much emphasis on insurance brokers and failed to address the role of insurance companies in limiting competition.