Anti-consumer policies must be tackled

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.

At a business breakfast organised by the Waterford Chamber of Commerce, Dr John Fingleton urged a tackling of vested political interests and the repealing of legislation that is anti-competitive.

“Ireland has a background or a legacy of anti-consumer culture,” he said, referring to the historical impact of state-run monopolies and cartels. “Regulation that restricts competition is a large part of anti-consumer policy.”