Competition

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is investigating suspected anticompetitive behaviour in the small electric appliances sector in Ireland.   The investigation relates to a suspected resale price maintenance (RPM) arrangement between a manufacturer, a distributor, and mul

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has cleared the proposed acquisition of Alpha Media by Iconic Media. Alpha Media Group Limited is a locally-owned weekly newspaper group in Northern Ireland which publishes 13 newspapers, website and social media sites, all circulating outsid

The financial threshold for mandatory notification of mergers in Ireland should be increased, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has said amid a growing caseload. There were 90 mergers notified in 2025, up from 82 in 2024 and 68 in 2023, according to the CCPC's annual mergers

Five bus and taxi operators have been convicted of competition law offences following a first-of-its-kind trial. Andrew Walsh, Anthony Flynn, Larry Hickey, Noel Browne and Raymond Heney have been found guilty of engaging in an anti-competitive concerted practice contrary to sections 4 and 6 of the C

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is to carry out a full Phase 2 investigation into the proposed purchase of OCL Laundry Services by Elis. Elis SA and OCL Laundry Services Limited are both active in the outsourced supply of flat linen rental and maintenance services in the St

Google is facing an EU competition probe over its use of online content to help power its generative AI systems, including AI summaries on search result pages. The European Commission will investigate whether Google is distorting competition by imposing unfair terms and conditions on publishers and

Competition has weakened in a number of key services industries including legal services, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has warned. The watchdog's State of Competition in Ireland reports, published today, examine the evolution of competition within Ireland’s non-fin

More than a dozen adjudication officers have been appointed to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in a milestone for its enforcement powers. The panel of 16 independent adjudication officers were appointed by the enterprise, tourism and employment minister Peter Burke with eff

Trainee accountants can now more easily switch employers following an intervention by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) has scrapped a policy which required trainees to seek permission from their current employer before interviewing with a

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published its full 260-page determination on the Phoenix-Cellnex merger, one of the largest value mergers ever approved by the watchdog. The CCPC cleared the acquisition of Cellnex Ireland Limited by Phoenix Tower International in Februar

Five bus and taxi operators accused of anti-competitive practices have gone on trial before the Central Criminal Court. Raymond Heney, Larry Hickey, Noel Browne, Anthony Flynn and Andrew Walsh deny charges under the Competition Act 2002.

McCann FitzGerald lawyers Rosaleen Byrne, Laura Treacy, Amy Brick and Stephen Ryan examine the European Commission's first fine for an incomplete response to an RFI issued pursuant to the Modernisation Regulation. The European Commission has, for the first time, jointly and severally fined a company

Apple has lost a first-of-its-kind class action lawsuit in the UK in a case concerning the "excessive and unfair" charges imposed on app developers. The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) yesterday handed down judgment in Dr Rachael Kent v Apple Inc. and Apple Distribution International Ltd [2025] CA

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has cleared the proposed acquisition of Perry’s Cash and Carry Limited by BWG Foods Unlimited Company (BWG) subject to legally-binding commitments. BWG is involved in the wholesale distribution of food and grocery goods to its affiliate

A court in the US has decided against ordering Google to divest its Chrome and Android business in a competition case concerning its search monopoly. The US Department of Justice launched the long-running legal proceedings during the final months of the first Trump administration in October 2020, su