Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 July 2018

Thursday, 12 July 2018

Questions (316)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

316. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of investigative cases commenced for suspected anti-competitive conduct which falls within the definition of a cartel; the number of inspections carried out; the number of prosecutions and cartel decisions made; the number of cases which concluded with fines issued; the amount in euro of fines issued; the number of collected and uncollected fines; the average fine per cartel; and the average length of cartel investigations to date in each year since the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was established in tabular form. [32125/18]

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 (cartel)	Three investigations launched: a total of 48 files screened*
The   number of searches carried out	Twenty-five
The   number of prosecutions and cartel decisions made	Two (company and individual)
The   number of cases which concluded with fines issued	One resulting in two prosecutions and two convictions
The   amount in Euro of fines issued	€55,000**
The   number of collected and uncollected fines	As above
The   average fine per cartel	N/A
The   average length of cartel investigations to date in each year	18 – 36 months

* 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’s role is to investigate alleged cartels and if sufficient evidence of a cartel is obtained, the CCPC submits a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions with the recommendation that the parties be prosecuted on indictment.