Watchdog without teeth

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

From Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to Tánaiste Mary Harney and the world of business, the notion of competition is the flavour of the month.

Ironically, however, the sole State authority tasked with policing such anti-competitive practices as cartel price-fixing, is so emasculated as to be incapable of doing its job properly.