Competition Authority seek consumer advice on mergers

The Competition Authority is to seek the opinion of consumers and business on the approach it should take to company mergers.

Under new legislation, the Authority takes over control of the whole merger review process from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment next year.

Dermot Nolan, of the Competition Authority, says they want to be fully informed to run the best possible regime.

"We want to run a regime to make company mergers work, for the benefit of consumers in Ireland in general.

"It is important that any mergers that do take place do not have any anti-competitive ideas, and lead to prices being risen for consumers. As a result we want consumers to give us as much thought and as much information as they can in the next month or so."