ICTU: Competition Authority 'uncaring and incompetent'

Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary David Begg has characterised the Competition Authority as “uncaring and incompetent” and said control of competition policy has been “ceded to liberal zealots”.

Mr Begg contrasted the Competition Authority’s blanket refusal to allow freelance voiceover artists engage in collective negotiations on pay rates, while allowing “a huge commercial takeover to proceed by default”, a reference to the Authority’s failure in the recent takeover of Statoil’s Irish operation, by Topaz.

The Competition Authority missed the legal deadline to impose restrictions on the multimillion euro deal, while the work of the voiceover artists attracted payments of “a little bit over the minimum wage”, Mr Begg explained.

Speaking at an energy conference today, Mr Begg said he ‘abhorred’ the manner in which the Authority went about its business and said he was opposed to it having any role in the Irish electricity market.

“I have no confidence in these people and they have proved themselves to be both uncaring and incompetent,” said Mr Begg.

“The biggest problem I have with the regulation of the electricity market is that it is seems to me that both in Europe and at home control of competition policy has been effectively ceded to liberal zealots.

“And the result? The European market is now dominated by three major companies and we have higher prices in Ireland as a result.”

Mr Begg said the recent 20% hike in ESB charges was, in part, a result of the policy of attempting to create “artificial” competition in the electricity market.

“One might also ask whether the Irish people are aware of the full cost of maintaining an elaborate regulatory structure in order to artificially create a market in Ireland?” he asked.

“For Congress the last few weeks have been a revelation and a serious caution against relying on governments or anyone else to defend strategic state assets.

“You may take it that Congress will not acquiesce in the development of an energy strategy which owes more to the demands of neo-liberal orthodoxy than to the needs of the country.”