Brian McHugh

The 2024 annual report details the investigations, enforcement actions and public awareness campaigns carried out during the CCPC’s 10th anniversary year.

More than seven in 10 merger determinations (71 per cent) were made under the simplified merger notification procedure, up from 50 per cent in the previous year.

There were a total of 82 merger notifications in 2024, an increase of 20.6 per cent on the previous year, and the CCPC issued 77 determinations.

In a particularly significant merger decision, the CCPC last year blocked daa from purchasing the former QuickPark car park site at Dublin Airport to prevent a monopoly in that market.

Over the course of the year, the CCPC opened five new investigations for suspected breaches of competition law.

It carried out dawn raids on two premises as part of an ongoing cartel-related investigation in the home alarm industry, and assisted the Italian competition authority with an unannounced search of Ryanair’s headquarters in Dublin as part of an ongoing Italian competition investigation.

In its role as the consumer watchdog, the CCPC recalled, withdrew or prevented 178,596 unsafe products reaching the Irish market.

It also launched proceedings against several nationwide retailers for breaches of new sales pricing laws, undertook 205 consumer protection inspections, and responded to over 44,000 helpline contacts and received 1.8 million website visits.

CCPC chairperson Brian McHugh said: “2024 marked a major milestone for the CCPC — 10 years of championing consumer rights and fostering competitive markets in Ireland.

“Open, fair markets are the backbone of our economy’s success, ensuring that whether consumers are making small everyday purchases or major financial decisions, their interests are protected.

“Our annual report highlights the vital role the CCPC plays across all sectors of the economy, from enforcing consumer law on retail pricing, to advocating proactively for reforming the legal sector to better serve the interests of Irish businesses and consumers.

“As we look ahead, it is clear that the CCPC’s work is more important than ever and our vision for open and competitive markets where consumers are protected and businesses actively compete, remains at the heart of everything we do.

“Following a year of notable achievements and a decade of progress, our focus remains on delivering transparent outcomes, empowering consumers with knowledge of their rights, and being a leading voice for competition and consumer welfare across Ireland.”