Competition Authority victimising farmers, says Macra

MACRA na FEIRME national president Thomas Honner has described the Competition Authority as a 'cabal' preying on easy targets while being reluctant to tackle big business.

Mr Honner, who was speaking at Macra's annual conference in Carlow, said the authority now has more than 40 staff and received an allocation in excess of €5 million in the government spending estimates for 2005, an increase of 28% on last year.

"When are tax payers going to see any real return for our investment? It is time to take on bigger fish than farmers and credit unions," he said.