Cork transport firms raided as part of cartel investigation

Searches took place as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into 'potential breaches of competition law'

Raids on a number of transport businesses in the Cork area were carried out in recent days.

Raids on a number of transport businesses in the Cork area were carried out in recent days as part of criminal investigations by competition regulators into potential price fixing and cartel behaviour.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) said the searches involving officers from the agency and members of the gardaí took place at businesses involved in "the publicly-funded transport sector". 

It did not name the firms but said the searches were part of "an ongoing criminal investigation into potential breaches of competition law". 

The CCPC is the regulator responsible for enforcing European Union competition law in Ireland.

"Authorised officers from the CCPC were supported by colleagues from An Garda Síochána, with detectives from the Cork Division participating in the operation," it said. 

The regulator has for a number of years been active in investigating all types of public procurement contracts, and has sought in recent times to bolster its powers of inquiry through new legislation. 

It has also probed private firms bidding for Government contracts for transport and school bus services.    

Last month, a trial debt was set for a number of individuals and companies in Co Tipperary that related to charges of anti-competition behaviour in bus services following an investigation that started seven years ago.   

CCPC chair Brian McHugh told the Oireachtas Finance Committee earlier this week that the regulator was seeking new powers to allow it to scrutinise potential bid-rigging in the €20bn contracts for goods and services the Government issues each year.

CCPC chair Brian McHugh told the Oireachtas Finance Committee the regulator was seeking new powers to allow it to scrutinise potential bid-rigging in the €20bn contracts for goods and services the Government issues each year.

"Access to public procurement data would allow the CCPC to further identify and pursue this harmful conduct where it has occurred and would act as a deterrent to those considering undertaking such harmful behaviour," he told TDs. 

The regulator has the power to investigate and prosecute so-called anti-competitive or cartel understandings struck between firms to agree to fix prices, share markets, or restrict output, and "abusive practices by firms which hold dominant market positions". 

"Such practices could include predatory pricing or refusal to supply. It is the CCPC’s role to enforce Irish and European Union competition law by investigating suspected breaches of these prohibitions," the regulator said in a statement. 

The regulator said it has the power, under law, "to carry out unannounced searches of business premises and private homes, on foot of a search warrant issued by the District Court". 

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