Vol. 440 No. 3
4 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the action, if any, he intends to take in view of the decision of the Competition Authority to refuse a certificate for the Irish Distillers bid for Cooley Distillers.
19 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether he has had any response from the Competition Authority to the purchase of Cooley by Irish Distillers; and if he will make a statement on the implications of an adverse finding by the Authority in this case.
65 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether he has had any response from the Competition Authority to the purchase of Cooley by Irish Distillers; and if he will make a statement on the implications of an adverse finding by the Authority in this case.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 19 and 65 together.
The Competition Authority is an autonomous body under the Competition Act, 1991. It has the sole authority in deciding whether to issue a licence or certificate under the Act.
Notification of the agreement relating to Irish Distillers' proposed takeover of Cooley for the purposes of obtaining a licence or certificate under section 4 of the Competition Act, 1991, was made directly to the Competition Authority by the parties concerned. I am informed that the Authority did not find it possible, on the basis of the facts presented to it, to issue a certificate or a licence under the Act. Accordingly, the takeover, as proposed cannot, succeed. The matter is now one for the firms concerned and the question of a response or any action on my part does not arise.
Has the Government plans to ensure that the jobs in the industry can be saved and further employment created? Will he confirm that to date neither the State nor any of its agencies has made a contribution to this company? Will he comment on the ability of this small emerging company to enter successfully into a very difficult and monopolised market?
The future of Cooley is a matter for the company. The press release issued by the company on 2 March suggested that it intended to raise business expansion funds under the BES scheme to develop the company in 1994. I assume from that it planned to develop the company and create more jobs, although I do not have direct knowledge in that regard.
Will the Minister of State agree that the press release indicated the State had not made a contribution but that the company was hoping for support and assistance from State agencies?
If the company qualifies, it will receive assistance under the State's range of support schemes. I do not propose to comment on an application for a scheme from a particular company.
