I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 19 and 65 together.
The Competition Authority is an autonomous body under the Competition Act, 1991. It has the sole authority in deciding whether to issue a licence or certificate under the Act.
Notification of the agreement relating to Irish Distillers' proposed takeover of Cooley for the purposes of obtaining a licence or certificate under section 4 of the Competition Act, 1991, was made directly to the Competition Authority by the parties concerned. I am informed that the Authority did not find it possible, on the basis of the facts presented to it, to issue a certificate or a licence under the Act. Accordingly, the takeover, as proposed cannot, succeed. The matter is now one for the firms concerned and the question of a response or any action on my part does not arise.