Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - Mergers and Monopolies Review Group.

Nora Owen

Question:

112 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of the report being prepared by the mergers and monopolies review group; if this group has examined the Groceries Order, 1987; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6679/99]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

The terms of reference of the competition and mergers review group are to review and make recommendations on the mergers legislation in the context of a legislative consolidation; the effectiveness of competition legislation and associated regulations; cultural matters in the context of the 1991 Act and in particular section 4(2) of that Act; and appropriate structures for implementing the above legislation. The group may commission detailed sectoral studies as required and will also, in its work, review the evolution of competition policy at EU and global level.

The primary purpose of the review group is to make recommendations designed to further improve on our competition regime in terms of its legislative provisions and its structures. The treatment of mergers under competition law and the consolidation and improvement of mergers legislation will be central to this work. The group is also reviewing the position of the Restrictive Practices (Groceries) Order, 1987, particularly the below cost selling aspects of the order, with a view to making appropriate recommendations in this regard for the future.

To date the group has met on 36 occasions. The group has published two discussion documents entitledProposals for Discussion in Relation to Mergers (July 1998) and Proposals for Discussion in Relation to Some Recommendations of the Report of the Commission on the Newspaper Industry (February, 1999). The group is continuing with its work and is now considering issues related to the Competition Acts and the Groceries Order. I expect the group to make its final report later this year.