Watchdog reports searches hiked 75%

THE number of search warrants sought by the Competition Authority as part if its investigation increased by 75% last year.

The authority’s annual report for 2005 shows that the agency was issued with 42 search warrants by the courts, up from 24 in 2004. Five years ago the Competition Authority sought just two search warrants. In addition, the authority issued 46 summonses in 2005.

The agency said that last year was one of the most successful in its history, with the first jury trial in Europe concerning criminal competition law involving allegations of a cartel in home heating oil in the west of Ireland.