Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
72. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment for an update on providing the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission with new powers as set out in the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13288/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is developing a Miscellaneous Consumer Protection, Competition and Enforcement Bill. The legislative proposal aims to enhance consumer rights, promote fair competition and provide stronger enforcement tools to protect consumers and businesses alike. The proposals form part of the Government’s commitments under the Programme for Government. A core part of this legislative project is the empowerment of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to impose proportionate fines for serious breaches of consumer law and reducing reliance on lengthy court processes.
Key measures of the Bill will focus on granting the CCPC authority to screen public procurement data, enabling proactive detection of anti-competitive behaviour in procurement and empowering them to impose proportionate fines for serious breaches of competition law. This power will be of enhanced importance in the context of the State’s ambitious capital expenditure plans.
As part of the preparatory work for the drafting of the General Scheme of the above Bill, my Department launched a Public Consultation in December 2025, which runs until 27 February. The Secretary General of my Department has written to all Secretaries General advising them of the Public Consultation and requesting that they bring it to the attention of relevant bodies under their aegis, along with relevant functions within their Departments, and encourage engagement where appropriate.
Once the responses from the public consultation have been collated and reviewed my officials will work on preparing a Memo for Government to approve the General Scheme and legislative drafting.
