Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Mar 2000

Vol. 515 No. 6

Written Answers. - Electricity Charges.

Michael Ring

Question:

65 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the matter of a limited liability company involved in property management putting a levy on electricity charges to its tenants will be investigated under the Competitions Acts, 1991 and 1996. [6664/00]

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

There is no price control in operation in respect of electricity or other prices since the abandonment of this policy over a decade ago. The Competition (Amendment) Act, 1996, which amended the Competition Act 1991, contains offences and penalties provisions for breaches of the rules of competition as set out in the 1991 Act. In addition, it provides for public enforcement of the rules of competition. A director of competition enforcement was appointed in order to give effect to the public enforcement provisions. The powers of the director are set out in section 9.

As a result of the enactment of the Competition (Amendment) Act, 1996 there are two alternative ways of pursuing allegations of breaches of competition rules: take civil action under section 6 of the Competition Act, 1991 or make a complaint to the director of competition enforcement at the Competition Authority, Parnell House, Parnell Square, Dublin 1, requesting him to investigate the alleged breaches.