BAA’s dominance of the UK airports sector was under review today as part of a look into whether the market works well for travellers.

A FULL-BLOWN inquiry into Britain’s £95 billion (€138.8bn) grocery sector was confirmed yesterday after fears of anti-competitive practices sparked a massive public response.

THE former chief executive of the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) has been appointed as chairman of the Competition Authority.

THE main opposition parties last night called on Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin to clearly indicate his proposals for legislation to replace the Groceries Order.

A NEW chairman of the Competition Authority is unlikely to be appointed until next year.

BANKS have not done enough to remove anti-competitive practices and should be forced to become more customer-friendly if they do not do so voluntarily, the state competition watchdog said yesterday.

Small businesses are losing around €85m a year as banks hold back the benefits of interest rate cuts, a leading watchdog claimed today.

THE Coalition partners may be heading for their second row of the year, this time over the Groceries Order, which bans below-invoice cost selling.

FINE GAEL last night promised to sweep away price controls in a move they claim could save consumers up to 10% on shopping and strike a blow against ‘rip-off Ireland’.

I FIND it amazing that financial adviser Eddie Hobbs and the head of the Competition Authority, John Fingleton, find it politically correct to attack the Groceries Order.

HOUSEHOLDERS are being forced to pay almost €500 a year more for groceries because legislation is preventing competition in the sector, the Competition Authority (CA) has said.

WHEN Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin opens his departmental post this morning he will find a damning document among the nappies which, presumably, by now are arriving at his office in a growing nationwide campaign for consumer rights.

THE chairman of Ireland’s competition watchdog is to quit after being offered the €370,000 top job at its British equivalent.

The Competition Authority chairperson John Fingleton has resigned from his position, it was announced today.

ENTERPRISE, Trade and Employment minister Micheál Martin has named the interim chairman of the National Consumer Agency.

APART from grand occasions, like a price increase, it’s an awesome sight to witness a gathering of a couple of hundred publicans spontaneously rise to their feet to give a standing ovation.

John Fingleton was today re-appointed as chairman of the Competition Authority.

FORMER Aer Lingus boss Willie Walsh has no doubts about the need for private ownership as the way forward for the Irish economy.

Top politicians and business people have been lined up for one of the most prestigious events in the Irish business calendar next week.

AS a farmer I was angered by Competition Authority chairman John Fingleton's annual report (Irish Examiner, March 2) which ignored the fact that farmers get less every year because of the power of the supermarkets to get bigger profits from our food.

IRISH households could save up to €150 every year after plans to shake up home and motor insurance were published yesterday.

The Government vowed today to remove any barriers to competition in the insurance industry in a bid to slash prices.

IRELAND is “too small to be slow” and needs to strengthen policy and regulation if it is to increase competition, the chairman of the Competition Authority told business leaders in Waterford yesterday.

FINE Gael has criticised the Competition Authority’s recommendation that the financial services regulator no longer be required to approve bank charge increases.

THE Competition Authority report into the banking sector says switching personal accounts must be made easier.

REGULATIONS in the Irish banking sector have seriously restricted entry to the Irish market, said Competition Authority chairman John Fingleton yesterday.

THE report into the banking sector could be the start of a gentle revolution in banking.

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell last night criticised the restrictive practices of the law profession and called for greater transparency and value for money from barristers and solicitors.

Competition Authority chairman John Fingleton has launched a stinging attack on what he called Ireland's "culture of anti-consumer behaviour".

THE Competition Authority yesterday was portrayed as having skewered priorities, pursuing cases involving “pedigree moggies” while making insufficient inroads against major anti-competitive practices.

The Chairman of the Competition Authority, John Fingleton has been severely criticised for comments he made in relation to the District Court conviction of Dunnes Stores and Tesco Ireland for breaching the Groceries Order.

Dublin District Court has fined Tesco and Dunnes €20,000 each for breaching the Groceries Order by selling goods at below-cost prices.

COMPETITION among architects could be opened up and prices to the consumer reduced if the umbrella body for the sector revised some of its rules and key changes were made, a report has concluded.

IN the lexicon of political jargon, the buzz word in vogue is “competitiveness”.

ADVERTISING restrictions, lack of fee competition and methods of selecting members using age as a criteria must be halted to make the engineering profession more competitive, a State watchdog said yesterday.

THE barriers to competition in the retail food sector identified by Competition Authority chairman John Fingleton are not linked to price inflation, according to IBEC’s Food and Drink Federation.

The Competition Authority Chairman Dr John Fingleton has come under fire from the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland.

THE Competition Authority has accused a consumer lobby group of failing to push for lower grocery prices.

THE Competition Authority clashed with retailers yesterday over the best way to bring down consumer prices, as Ireland looks set to become the most expensive state in the eurozone.

THE cost of legal, medical and professional services could fall by up to 30% with the removal of anti-competitive practices, it was claimed yesterday.