Intervening on 'potential monopoly' in car parking at Dublin Airport a highlight for watchdog

The watchdog suggested it stopped the deal after finding it would lead to higher prices, less choice, and lower service quality for consumers, while it facilitated a new entrant into the car parking market at Dublin Airport.

Investigations into the Oasis ticket debacle, actions against retailers Temu and Shein, and dawn raids of home alarm companies were among the notable actions Ireland’s consumer watchdog said it took last year.

In its annual report, the Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (CCPC) said that 2024 marked a significant milestone as it marked its 10th anniversary with 44,000 contacts to its helpline aimed at supporting Irish consumers.

“Our annual report highlights the vital role the CCPC plays across all sectors of the economy, from enforcing consumer law on retail pricing to advocating proactively for reforming the legal sector to better serve the interests of Irish businesses and consumers,” chairperson Brian McHugh said.

“As we look ahead, it is clear that the CCPC’s work is more important than ever. Our vision for open and competitive markets, where consumers are protected and businesses actively compete, remains at the heart of everything we do.” 

It said that among its highlights was its successful intervention to prevent a “potential monopoly” in car parking in Dublin Airport, when it blocked DAA’s attempted purchase of the former Quickpark site.

The watchdog suggested it stopped the deal after finding it would lead to higher prices, less choice, and lower service quality for consumers, while it facilitated a new entrant into the car parking market at the airport.

Furthermore, it said that recent analysis it has conducted shows evidence that consumers have benefitted from increased competition for car parking business at the airport. 

While DAA itself said the move would be bad for consumers, it did not appeal the CCPC’s decision.

Unsafe products

Elsewhere, the CCPC said over 178,000 unsafe products were either removed or prevented from reaching the Irish market — including 10,000 babies’ sleepsuits and over 2,400 toy construction trucks.

It also initiated 200 inspections, issued 47 fixed penalty notices, and gave 23 compliance notices to businesses suspected of breaching their obligations.

Prosecutions were successfully brought against five retailers — including Tesco Ireland, which pleaded guilty to two sample counts of failing to comply with the law in how they displayed the price of products offered on promotion to Tesco Clubcard holders.

As well as the dawn raids on two premises as part of an ongoing cartel-related investigation in the home alarm industry, the watchdog said it also assisted its Italian counterparts through an unannounced search of Ryanair’s headquarters in Dublin as part of an ongoing Italian competition law probe.

Regarding tickets for the landmark Oasis concerts in Dublin next month, the watchdog said it received over 100 contacts to its helpline over the situation where fans faced huge prices to varying degrees for tickets as a result of “dynamic pricing” being used by Ticketmaster.

On foot of this, it said it launched an investigation into Ticketmaster Ireland and its handling of the sale of Oasis tickets last year.

Mr McHugh added: “Following a year of notable achievements and a decade of progress, our focus remains on delivering transparent outcomes, empowering consumers with knowledge of their rights, and being a leading voice for competition and consumer welfare across Ireland.”