Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
49. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the increased supports that are being provided for the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53169/21]
View answerThe CCPC has a statutory function under the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 to promote competition and to promote and protect the interests and welfare of Irish consumers. In pursuit of these functions, the CCPC enforces competition and consumer protection laws. They also provide advice to the Government and other public bodies on issues relating to competition and consumer welfare.
The allocation of financial resources to the CCPC has increased considerably in recent years consistent with the rapid expansion in its responsibilities for new competition and consumer protection legislation and the impact of Brexit on consumers in Ireland following the end of the transition period in December 2020. Their efforts to encourage Irish consumers to get ready for Brexit coincided with severe impacts which consumers encountered due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The total Exchequer allocation for the CCPC in 2021 is €16,736 million. The Exchequer allocation for the CCPC in 2020 was €13,836 million. A sum of €18,323 million is being provided by the Government for the CCPC in 2022. The CCPC is seeing a total increase of 32.43% in its budget allocation over the period 2020 to 2022. This significant increase in resources is enabling the CCPC to meet the considerable demands it faces in supporting consumers both during Brexit and the pandemic and preparing for the introduction of civil fines for companies who contravene competition law. The CCPC is required to expand its current remit to meet the challenges it is facing in the coming period to apply new provisions which are contained in the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the Consumer Rights Bill 2021. The CCPC has also assumed responsibility for the EU Regulation on Platform to Business (P2B).
My department is keeping the matter of adequately resourcing the CCPC under constant review to ensure that there is a proper fit between their statutory remit and the adequacy of resources required to enable them to meet those statutory obligations.
