The Competition Authority's problems refuse to go away.

Several senior officials have left for the private sector and it has now emerged that the body cannot embark on new investigations into alleged cartels due to a lack of "resources".

Given the pursuit of cartels is its primary task, some observers have speculated that the roof is falling in at the authority.

In fact, this is exactly what happened last week when staff at the authority's offices at Parnell Square discovered a hole in the roof of a meeting room and sections of ceiling on the floor. Ominous indeed.

The Margin was tempted to think that metaphysical elements were involved. The hole, however, appeared during construction work.