NCC calls for new competition legislation

THE National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has urged the Government to amend the law to allow fines to be imposed for breaches of competition policy.

It said Ireland was one of just a few countries who could not impose fines for breaking competition laws.

The NCC annual review said that though the Competition Act was a significant step toward enhancing competition law by strengthening the powers of the Competition Authority, the "absence of civil actions for violations of competition laws means that the High Court is unable to impose fines where the Authority bring a civil case."