Other Years
For Pre 2011 stories go to the Compecon Newsletter Archive.
Check out our Competition Economics Blog.
January
Dublin, 17th January – Competition Authority outlines preliminary findings on television advertising complaint.
The Competition Authority published an enforcement decision outlining its initial views in respect of a complaint of abuse of dominance against State owned broadcaster RTE in the television advertising market. RTE agreed to amend its arrangements for selling television advertising following an approach by the Authority.
London, 18th January – OFT refers aggregates. cement and ready-mix concrete markets to Competition Commission for investigation.
February
Dublin, 12th February – Good news for Competition Authority in latest Troika MOU.
The MOU requires the Government to review the Competition Authority’s resources and, if necessary, to provide any additional resources that are required to allow for adequate enforcement of the legislation. In addition, the MOU provides that the Government will seek to introduce an amendment to the Competition (Amendment) Bill which would make undertakings furnished to the Authority legally binding, subject to such a provision being consistent with the Constitution. These proposals address some criticisms made by Compecon Director, Patrick Massey in a speech to the Dublin Economics Workshop Annual Economic Policy Conference in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, in October 2011. (See archive).
March
Dublin 3rd March – Bar Council publishes Compecon report on Government’s Legal Services Regulation Bill, 2011.
Click here to access a copy of the report.
June
London, 18th June – Competition Commission to investigate Ryanair’s minority shareholding in Aer Lingus.
July
Dublin, 3rd July – Competition (Amendment) Act, 2012, comes into force.
The legislation increases the penalties for breaches of competition law. The maximum fine that may be imposed on an undertaking or individual increases from €4m to €5m. The Act also raises the maximum prison sentence for a company executive found guilty of engaging in “hard-core” cartel behaviour from 5 to 10 years.
October
1st October marked the 21st anniversary of the coming into force of the Competition Act, 1991.
November
Brussels, 12th November – EU Commission to object to Ryanair takeover of Aer Lingus.
According to newspaper reports, the EU Commission is set to issue a formal statement of objections in relation to Ryanair’s proposed acquisition of Aer Lingus.