The watchdog’s 2025 report highlights the convictions, secured following a CCPC investigation, as a major milestone for competition law enforcement in Ireland. A second tranche of related cases is due to be heard later this year.

The CCPC also carried out 10 dawn raids as part of ongoing cartel investigations and continued implementing Ireland’s new administrative competition enforcement regime, which allows it to impose financial sanctions for breaches of Irish and EU competition law.

Consumer protection inspections increased by 31 per cent to 270, resulting in five successful prosecutions, including the first cases under new sales pricing laws against retailers including Boots, Lifestyle Sports, DID Electrical Appliances and Rathwood Home & Garden.

The commission also secured €350,000 in refunds for more than 4,000 Dublin Airport customers who had been overcharged during car parking “flash sales”.

Separately, 276,377 unsafe or non-compliant products were recalled, withdrawn or prevented from reaching the Irish market, including more than 120,000 circulating pumps and almost 60,000 air fryers.

The CCPC completed 91 merger determinations during the year, with notifications rising by almost 10 per cent compared with 2024.

CCPC chairperson, Brian McHugh, said: “The CCPC had a landmark year in 2025. The conviction of five school bus operators for bid-rigging shows our commitment to tackling serious breaches of competition law and protecting taxpayers, businesses and consumers from the significant harm caused by cartels.

“We’re committed to using the full range of powers available to us and increased our enforcement activity last year from cartel investigations and consumer law prosecutions to major product safety interventions. Having long advocated for stronger enforcement tools, we welcome the Government’s commitment to provide the CCPC with increased powers which will enable us to deliver even greater outcomes for consumers.

“We will continue to prioritise work that keeps the Irish market open and competitive and delivers the greatest impact for Irish consumers.”