Significant and wide-ranging new powers of investigation, intervention and enforcement are proposed to be given to the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), under the Competition (Amendment) Act 2022.
Contact usIreland’s government has said it will empower the country’s antitrust enforcer to fine companies for anticompetitive conduct, although it still faces significant opposition and constitutional challenges.
EU, Competition & ProcurementOn 16 July 2020, the European Commission (the Commission) launched a sector inquiry into the markets for consumer products and services linked to the Internet of Things (IoT).
EU, Competition & Procurement
Our EU, Competition & Procurement team has published a very useful guide for business leaders on the State aid packages granted by various EU Member States and the UK which have been approved by the European Commission. This guide will be updated over time.
COVID-19The European Commission is currently consulting on a proposal for a new power (the NCT) that would allow them to impose behavioural and structural remedies in markets where they have identified certain competition issues.
EU, Competition & Procurement
On 1 July 2020, as the Irish economy was re-opening after the COVID-19 lockdown, Ireland's Competition and Consumer Protection (CCPC) warned businesses to act independently when setting prices and charges.
COVID-19It comes as no surprise that the Programme for Government agreed by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party (the Programme) features green elements across a variety of policy headings.
EU, Competition & ProcurementYou reap what you sow. What will be the consequences of countries across the EU pumping trillions of euro into businesses because of the Covid Crisis? What are the lessons which we should learn and apply?
EU, Competition & ProcurementThe European Commission (Commission) adopted a White Paper on 17 June 2020 dealing with the distortive effects caused by foreign subsidies in the Single Market (White Paper). The White Paper is designed to assist the Commission in preparing for EU legislative proposals to deal with such effects.
EU, Competition & ProcurementOn 15 June 2020, almost four years after the UK voted to leave the EU, there was a video conference between the Presidents of the European Council, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Prime Minister of the UK.
BrexitOn 16 June 2020, the European Commission launched a consultation on a new EU strategy to improve and accelerate patients’ access to safe and affordable medicines and to support innovation in the EU pharmaceutical industry.
EU, Competition & Procurement
As businesses across the EU are receiving State aid due to the COVID-19 crisis, it is worth recalling a decision made by the European Commission on 8 May 2020 dealing with a decision made in 2011 to approve State aid to credit unions in Ireland.
COVID-19Until now, it was possible, but not very likely, that the UK would seek an extension of the Brexit transition period beyond the current deadline of 31 December 2020.
Brexit
