Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) suggested that monies raised through the activities of the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) should be used to fund the investigations of the Competition Authority.
At a time when those in government seemed slow to look at issues such as price controls and involve themselves in that area, and at a time when "we're looking at inflation", the only device in the economy for guaranteeing that proper competition took place was the authority.
"It's now a criminal investigation, this whole area, and they do not have the resources," Mr O'Toole said.
"They are covering the whole country. They have three detectives in it. It just is a joke.
"Those people, cartels, are running rings around them," he added.
Ms Kathleen O'Meara (Lab) said everyone in the State was aware of the level of price increases and of the sheer profiteering that had gone on in the last year.
The perception was that this had been extraordinary. Measures must be taken to combat it.
Mr Brian Hayes, Fine Gael's leader in the House, said the director of consumer affairs should also have a role in investigating "massive" price rises that had occurred.