Public Consultation on Aspects of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2021
A&L Goodbody's EU, Competition & Procurement team has submitted a response to the public consultation on certain aspects of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2021. The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2021 will implement Directive (EU) 2019/1 (the ECN+ Directive) into Irish law but it is also proposed that certain additional amendments will be made to existing legislation to increase the enforcement powers of the CCPC.
The consultation invited views on the proposed additional amendments only (i.e. no submissions were invited on the specific transposition of the ECN+ Directive). In particular, the consultation invited submissions on the following proposed provisions in the new Bill:
- Providing for a specific anti-competitive practice of 'bid-rigging'
- Providing to allow the CCPC to take summary prosecutions for gun jumping offences (i.e. putting a merger or acquisition into effect before CCPC clearance) to reduce the burden on the DPP and to increase the enforcement of the gun-jumping provision generally
- Providing to give the CCPC power to undertake (i) interception and recording of electronic communications; and (ii) video and audio surveillance of suspects
- Providing for certain amendments relation to the operation of merger control
Further information on the consultation process can be found at here.
For more information on this topic please contact Anna-Marie Curran, Parnter or any member of the EU, Competition & Procurement team.
Date published: 15 February 2021