CCPC conducts searches of businesses
February 26, 2024
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has carried out a number of searches of businesses active in the home alarm industry.
The searches form part of an on-going criminal investigation into potential breaches of competition law. Authorised Officers from the CCPC were supported by colleagues from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and An Garda Síochána.
The CCPC is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in the Republic of Ireland. Competition law forbids anti-competitive agreements between two or more independent firms, such as agreements to fix prices, share markets, or restrict output. These agreements are often referred to as “cartel agreements”. Competition law also forbids firms which hold a dominant position from engaging in abusive practices, such as 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 CCPC has the power, under legislation, to carry out unannounced searches of business premises and private homes, on foot of a search warrant issued by the District Court. The aim of a search is to obtain information and evidence relating to an investigation being carried out by the CCPC. These searches are commonly referred to as “dawn raids”.
As the investigation is on-going, no further comment can be made at this time.
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