Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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245. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the track record of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which clearly shows that State bodies are not required to adhere to competition law; if his attention has been drawn to the amount of damage this can do to individuals and small to medium enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36425/24]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition law in Ireland. The CCPC is independent in the performance of its statutory functions. Investigations and enforcement matters are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC and I, as Minister, have no direct function in these matters.

The CCPC’s annual report for 2023, which was published on 16 July 2024, shows the CCPC carried out four dawn raids as part of two separate cartel investigations, 37 competition compliance reviews across a range of sectors and issued 66 merger determinations. In addition, the CCPC concluded one court prosecution for car crime and issued several different guidelines and policies for the implementation of new legislation.