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 usThe Council of the European Union recently voted unanimously to object to the Commission's delegated act identifying high-risk third countries with strategic deficiencies for the purposes of the money laundering directives (4MLD and 5MLD). The proposed act includes countries such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands on the list of high-risk third countries for the first time. In a strongl...
Disputes2018 saw 98 notifications of mergers and acquisitions to Ireland's Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). This was an increase of 36% in terms of the number of notifications over the number notified in 2017. The number of notifications in 2018 equalled the highest number of notifications on record for either the CCPC or, its predecessor, the Competition Authority.
EU, Competition & ProcurementPresident Michael D Higgins had signed the "Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019" into law.
BrexitWe always said that the Brexit negotiations would go to the wire despite there being a two-year timeline. The Strasbourg meeting on the night of Monday, 11 March, when the UK and the EU tabled various documents may or may not be enough to get the House of Commons to approve the draft Withdrawal Agreement. The EU documents are available here while the UK ones are available here. There was just...
BrexitThere are now three main avenues: UK leaves on 29 March 2019 without a deal UK asks, and the EU Member States agree unanimously, to extend the Brexit negotiating period beyond 29 March 2019 UK leaves on 29 March 2019 with a deal No Deal Brexit The first – the "crash out" or "no deal Brexit" – is currently a c.10% option. If this were to happen, it would happen because of a row or an accident...
BrexitThe application of the State aid rules in the context of sport has involved a number of high-profile cases and measures. The application of the State aid rules has also had a particularly important effect in Ireland
EU, Competition & ProcurementThe Government has published updated guidance on arrangements for EEA and Swiss citizens coming to the UK to visit, study, work or join family in the event of a 'no deal' Brexit.
BrexitPart 8 of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019 relates to insurance. UK insurers and insurance intermediaries that will still have Irish business (i.e. policyholders) post-29 March 2019 are understandably anxious. "Dear CEO" letters were sent by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) in Q4 2018 to all UK insurers and intermediaries passp...
BrexitThey were all set to go. The world expected them to leave. They planned to regain independence. They wanted to make new laws. There were many who were opposed but it seemed to be the "will of the people". There were court challenges. No one was sure how it would all work out. Supporters of leaving said they would do new deals with various parts of the world. At first, it all seemed a dr...
BrexitFollowing the referendum held on 23 June 2016, the UK Government submitted a notification to the European Union (EU) on 29 March 2017 of its intention to withdraw the UK from the EU.
BrexitEU and Irish competition law prohibit anti-competitive agreements between companies. In Ireland, agreements which breach EU and Irish competition law can have material adverse consequences for those involved...
EU, Competition & ProcurementIt has already been an eventful year for competition law regulators given the growing political involvement and wider geo-political effects of transactions (as well as business practices).
EU, Competition & Procurement
