Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018

Thursday, 12 July 2018

Questions (315)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

315. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of investigative cases commenced for suspected anti-competitive conduct that does not fall within the definition of a cartel; the number of inspections carried out; the number of prosecutions made; the number of fines issued, the amount in euro of fines issued; the number of collected and uncollected fines; the average fine per case in which fines were issued; and the average length of anti-competitive investigations to date in each year since the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was established in tabular form. [32124/18]

Written answers

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below: this refers to the investigations undertaken by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in the period from 31 October 2014 to 10 July 2018.

Number   of investigative cases commenced:	Ten investigations launched; a total of 129 files screened*
The   number of inspections carried out:	Five
The   number of prosecutions made:	Seven investigations closed with commitments and undertakings being given.
The   number of cases which concluded with fines issued:	0
The   amount in Euro of fines issued:	N/A**
The   number of collected and uncollected fines:	N/A   **
The   average fine per case:	N/A   **
The   average length of anti-competitive investigations to date.	12 - 36 Months

* Since January 2016, when the CCPC receives a complaint in relation to potential anti-competitive behaviour it is examined through a screening process before a decision can be made as to whether there is sufficient evidence to open an investigation.

** The CCPC cannot make administrative decisions or determinations concerning breaches of competition law. Only the courts can issue decisions confirming if a particular practice constitutes a breach of competition law.