The Competition Authority believes that the case "has not been adequately made" for regulating who can call themselves architects, as proposed by the Government's Building Control Bill.
In a consultation paper on the architectural profession in Ireland, published yesterday, the authority suggested that a "regulatory impact analysis" should be undertaken before this proposal is progressed.
It said registering the title "architect" could create "substantial barriers" to entry to the profession, in a situation where there was already a "huge excess of demand over supply" for a limited number of third-level places.
"This could have negative consequences for clients, in terms of the choice of architects, the fees charged and quality provided, and consequent negative effects on the aesthetic quality of Ireland's built environment," it said.
But the document goes on to say that if registration is ultimately found to be necessary, "any registration system should be administered by an independent, preferably statutory, body that does not face a conflict of interest".
Dr John Fingleton, the authority's chairman, said the aesthetic quality of building projects "would undoubtedly be improved by the greater use of architects" and one of the ways to achieve this is to improve competition within the profession.
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland welcomed the authority's recognition that there were few barriers to competition in the profession, but said the paper had produced "no evidence" to support its claim that there could be fee "collusion".
