asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has under examination the extension of merger and takeover arrangements throughout the economy in which foreign companies participate; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mergers and Take-Overs.
27.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to legislative arrangements in regard to mergers and take-overs.
I am having legislation prepared under which the Fair Trade Commission, on a reorganised basis, would have power to investigate monopolies, take-overs and mergers from the point of view of their effects on competition and which would enable me to make orders prohibiting a merger or takeover or requiring the dissolution of a business resulting from a completed take-over or merger or a business which enjoys a monopoly. These provisions would apply to any business operating here whether Irish or otherwise.