Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 January 2016
95. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the proposed acquisition by the ABP food group of 50% of the Slaney and Irish Country Meats business; if he will make a submission to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2417/16]
View answerThe 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.
