Competition Authority posts filled

Two figures who worked on separate inquiries into the Ansbacher scheme have been appointed to senior positions at the Competition Authority. They include a barrister who was a member of the High Court inquiry into Ansbacher.

The appointment of Ms Noreen Mackey as legal adviser is a further indication that the inspectorate's work is mostly complete. The other figure is Mr Ray Leonard, who worked on a Revenue Commissioners investigation into the secretive scheme. He will work as a divisional manager.

The High Court report on Ansbacher is on hold pending an action by two unnamed clients of the secretive bank, who do not want their names disclosed to the public. Ms Mackey and Mr Leonard were appointed in a new round of recruitment to the authority, which has lost a number of senior staff to the private sector in recent years.

Two Garda detectives have also joined the authority on secondment. Detective sergeants Michael Prendergast and Anthony Mulligan have been assigned to the cartels division at the authority, where they will assist with the enforcement of competition law. Five other case officers are expected to be appointed by the middle of June.