GENERAL
Competition (Amendment) Act 2022
GENERAL
Competition (Amendment) Act 2022
Origin
Directive (EU) 2019/1 to empower the competition authorities of the Member States to be more effective enforcers and to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market
General overview
The Competition (Amendment) Act 2022 implements Directive (EU) 2019/1 (the ECN+ Directive) into national law, providing the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (the CCPC) and the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) with additional powers to investigate and enforce EU competition law in Ireland.
Under the Act, competition authorities can investigate a suspected infringement of competition law and refer the matter to an independent adjudication office (AO), who will have similar powers to that of a High Court judge.
The AO may impose administrative financial sanctions on an undertaking. However, such sanctions sare subject to confirmation by the High Court.
Status
Signed into law by the President on 29 June 2022
Act partly commenced - s. 26 not in force
ACT IN OPERATION
(except for section 26)