Competition Law

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2016

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Questions (213)

Michael McNamara

Question:

213. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has concerns regarding the proposal by a company (details supplied) to acquire a 50% stake in Slaney Foods and, in particular, the fact that it will also acquire its rendering facility, given that there would now effectively be only four category three outlets for handling animal by-products, known as "fifth quarter products", on which all abattoirs in the State are reliant, and that this would give the company control of over a quarter of the beef processing industry in the State; if he proposes to investigate the proposed acquisition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1850/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The State, through the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, has an existing and well established infrastructure for oversight of competition matters and for dealing with allegations of anti-competitive practices or abuse of a dominant position.

I understand that acquisitions or mergers of organisations with turnover exceeding certain statutory thresholds are required to be notified to that body or the European Commission which conduct an assessment to determine whether there will be any “substantial lessening of competition”. The acquisition referred to by the deputy will be subject to the relevant statutory requirements under competition law.