CCPC welcomes appointment of independent adjudication officers by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
December 3, 2025
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is pleased to welcome a panel of independent adjudication officers appointed to the CCPC by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, TD, with effect from 27 November 2025.
The CCPC nominated the candidates to the Minister to act as adjudication officers and make decisions on behalf of the CCPC and otherwise to exercise functions under the Competition Act, 2002. They will form an expert and balanced panel, with diverse experience across competition law, economics, regulation, legal practice and international enforcement. The new appointment is for a five-year term, with Chief Adjudication Officer, Brian Kennedy SC, already appointed and in place.
The adjudication officers will play a vital part in ensuring the Irish competition regime delivers for consumers and the wider economy.
For many years the CCPC argued for stronger competition enforcement powers to protect consumers. The Competition (Amendment) 2022 Act establishes a landmark new administrative enforcement regime in Ireland for breaches of EU and Irish competition law. The CCPC can, through independent adjudication officers and subject to court approval, make decisions on alleged infringements of competition law and impose administrative financial sanctions of up to €10 million or 10% of total worldwide turnover.
The newly appointed panel will work alongside Chief Adjudication Officer, Brian Kennedy SC, and includes Andrew Taylor, Barry Doherty SC, Dr Catarina Marvão, Dr Dermot Nolan, Dr Elaine Byrne BL, Eoin Ó Cuilleanáin BL, Professor Francis O’Toole, Professor Frédéric Yves Jenny, Isolde Goggin, Johan Keetelaar, Julianne O’Leary, Laura McGovern, Lorna Gallagher BL, Dr Muiris Ó Céidigh, Sarah Johnson, Susan Ahern SC.
Commenting on the landmark appointment, Brian McHugh, Chairperson of the CCPC said:
“The appointment of this panel marks a significant milestone for the CCPC and for competition in Ireland. Now we can impose administrative financial sanctions for breaches of Irish and EU competition law, through independent adjudication officers and subject to Court confirmation.
“The CCPC is committed to promoting open and fair competition which is critical to the success of the Irish economy – driving value, consumer choice and innovation.
“The appointees bring exceptional experience and will play a pivotal role, alongside our Chief Adjudication Officer, Brian Kennedy SC, in ensuring that the Irish competition regime delivers for consumers and the Irish marketplace.”
Adjudication Officer appointees
Andrew Taylor
Andrew Taylor is a member of the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal, the UK’s specialist court for competition and regulatory matters, and chairs the NHS Independent Panel on Patient Choice and Procurement. Previously, he was co-founder and partner at Aldwych Partners, a boutique consultancy that advised on competition and antitrust issues, the former head of the NHS competition regulator, and a former Senior Director at the UK Competition Commission. He started his career as an economist in the Treasury Department of the Australian Government, followed by a spell as a special adviser to an Australian Cabinet Minister. Andrew holds a degree in Economics from the University of Adelaide and a Masters in Regulation from the London School of Economics.
Barry Doherty
Barry Doherty is a senior counsel specialising in EU law and Irish administrative law. He has advised both public and private bodies in Ireland on competition and State aid matters. He is also a member of the panel of adjudicators at the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Before commencing work as a barrister, he served as a Member of the European Commission’s Legal Service, working on major competition cases and mergers, and representing the Commission in significant litigation. In addition, he was previously senior legal adviser to ComReg and acted as a part-time Member of the Board of Appeal of the European Chemicals Agency based in Finland. Barry holds undergraduate law degree from Trinity College Dublin and also completed a Ph.D. entitled “Competition law in Ireland” there. He also obtained an LL.M from the College of Europe, Bruges and the degree of Barrister at Law from the King’s Inns, Dublin.
Dr Catarina Marvão
Catarina Marvão is an Assistant Professor in the UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business, Banking and Finance, and an Affiliated Professor in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance at T.U. Dublin. She is also Affiliated Faculty at Stockholm School of Economics. She is the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (CCPC) non-governmental adviser to the International Competition Network and a research affiliate at the Central Bank of Ireland. Prior to this, she worked in the Economics Department of the Portuguese Water and Residuals and Regulation Institute and has also held a research position at the Italian Competition Authority. Catarina holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Trinity College Dublin and an MSc in Economics from Uni Catholique de Louvain; Católica Lisbon.
Dr Dermot Nolan
Dermot Nolan is an economist and currently serves as Senior Adviser at Fingleton, a strategic consultancy that advises companies on complex competition and regulatory issues. He previously worked as manager of the mergers division of the Competition Authority, a predecessor organisation to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), producing reasoned decisions on high profile and complex investigations. He is a former Director of the Retail Division and Senior Economic Adviser at the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and was recently appointed to its panel of adjudication officers for Regulatory Adjudication. He also served as Commissioner and Chairperson at the Commission for Energy Regulation, now the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU), and as CEO of the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). Dermot holds a B.A. (Mod) in Economics from Trinity College Dublin and a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University.
Dr Elaine Byrne
Elaine Byrne is a practising barrister specialising in public law. She was recently appointed Chairperson of the Policing and Community Safety Authority of Ireland and currently serves as Acting Chair of the Health Committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.
She previously served as a Member and former Chairperson of the Policing Authority and acts as a Governance Consultant to the European Commission. Earlier in her career, she lectured in law at the Institute of Technology Carlow and in political science at Trinity College Dublin.
Elaine holds a Professional Diploma in Arbitration from University College Dublin, a Diploma in Regulation Law and Practice from the Law Society of Ireland, and a PhD in Governance and Political Science from the University of Limerick.
Eoin Ó Cuilleanáin
Eoin Ó Cuilleanáin is a practising barrister specialising in EU and Irish competition, regulatory, and public law. He has worked in the competition and regulatory departments of leading Irish law firms, advising Irish companies on the application of EU and domestic competition law. Eoin holds a Barrister-at-Law Degree from the King’s Inns, Dublin, a Post-Graduate Diploma in EU Competition Law from King’s College London, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from Dublin Institute of Technology, an MSc in Economics from University College London, and a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Trinity College Dublin.
Professor Francis O’Toole
Francis O’Toole is a lecturer in the Department of Economics at Trinity College Dublin, a position he has held since 1991. He has also served as Head of the Department of Economics and Director of the Business, Economics and Social Studies (‘BESS’) Programme and BESS Course Office at Trinity College Dublin. He has served as a consultant on competition policy and regulation and has worked with many public sector and private sector entities in Ireland and abroad (e.g. Charles River Associates in California). Francis holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in EC Competition Law from King’s College London and a Ph.D. in Economics from Georgetown University, Washington D.C., USA.
Professor Frédéric Yves Jenny
Frédéric Yves Jenny is an economist trained in microeconomics, market theory, and industrial organisation. He is Fernand Braudel Fellow at the European University Institute Department of Law, Co-Director of the George Washington University Competition and Innovation Lab and an Emeritus Professor of Economics at ESSEC Business School. He has held several senior positions within the French Government and Judiciary, including serving as Judge in the Commercial Economic and Financial Chamber of the French Supreme Court (Cour de cassation), and as Vice President and General Counsel of the French Competition Authority. He has also served as Non-Executive Director of the UK Office of Fair Trading, as Chairman of the WTO Working Group on Trade and Competition Policy, and as Chairman of the OECD Competition Committee. Frédéric holds an MSc and a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University and a Doctorate in Economics from the University of Paris.
Isolde Goggin
Isolde Goggin is the Chairperson of the Central Bank of Ireland’s Consumer Advisory Group, President of the International Institute of Communications, Non-Executive Director of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and Non-Executive Director of Trinity College Dublin. Prior to this, she served as the first Chairperson of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and also chaired one of its predecessor organisations, the Competition Authority. She is a former Member and Chairperson of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and was recently appointed to its panel of adjudication officers for Regulatory Adjudication. Isolde is a Chartered Engineer and Honorary Life Fellow of Engineers Ireland, with further qualifications in Business Administration and Competition Law.
Johan Keetelaar
Johan Keetelaar is a Senior Adviser at Oxera LLP (Amsterdam, Brussels, UK) and has advised public and private clients on competition and regulatory cases. He was recently appointed to the panel of adjudication officers for Regulatory Adjudication at the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Prior to this, he held senior leadership roles including Director for Economic Policy at Meta Platforms Inc. (EMEA), Director of Telecommunications, Transport and Post, and Director of Competition at the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) in the Netherlands. He also previously served in senior positions at OPTA (Independent Postal and Telecommunications Authority) and was responsible for adjudicating complex competition and regulatory cases at both OPTA and the ACM. Johan holds a MSc in Econometrics from the University of Amsterdam.
Julianne O’Leary
Julianne O’Leary is a solicitor qualified in both the UK and Ireland, having originally trained as a barrister in Ireland. She specialises in competition law and has previously served as Senior Competition Counsel at CRH plc. Prior to this, she was a Partner at Stephenson Harwood LLP (London), where she advised on all areas of competition law. She also served as a Senior Associate in the EU Competition Practice at Clifford Chance LLP (London and Brussels), advising on global investigations and merger filings, and on secondment as Antitrust Counsel at Shell International Limited. She previously lectured in EC competition law and public law of the EC at the University of Exeter. Julianne holds a Barrister-at-Law Degree from the King’s Inns, Dublin, and an LL.B from the National University of Ireland.
Laura McGovern
Laura McGovern is a solicitor specialising in advising on competition law and enforcement. She was recently appointed to the panel of adjudication officers for Regulatory Adjudication at the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), having previously served as Legal Adviser in its Wholesale Division. She has also worked in senior legal roles in the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). She previously served as a Senior Associate Solicitor in the EU Competition and Trade Department at Baker McKenzie, London, and as Associate Solicitor of the Antitrust Competition & Trade Department at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, London. Laura holds a Bachelor of Laws LL.B from the University of Bristol and a Diploma in Judicial Skills and Decision-Making from the Law Society of Ireland.
Lorna Gallagher
Lorna Gallagher is a practising barrister and former Tax Appeals Commissioner with extensive experience in litigation, adjudication and quasi-judicial decision-making. She practices in a broad range of civil law areas and in tax law. As an experienced adjudicator she is proficient in tribunal and administrative law, fair procedures and judicial review. She is widely published, peer reviewed and regularly speaks at industry events and legal conferences. She is an Associate of the Irish Tax Institute, a committee member of the Tax Bar Association and a former Member of the International Association of Tax Judges. Lorna is a qualified Chartered Tax Adviser and holds a Barrister-at-Law Degree from the King’s Inns and a Bachelor of Civil Law from University College Dublin.
Dr Muiris Ó Céidigh
Muiris Ó Céidigh is a solicitor and notary public, and the current Chief Executive of the National Milk Agency, a position he has held since 1995. He is a Member of the Property Services Appeal Board, a Governor of Belfast Metropolitan College, and a former Acting Chair and Board Member of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Northern Ireland Assembly. Prior to this, he was the Chair and Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, a Member of Council for the Veterinary Council of Ireland, and Non-Executive Director of the Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland. Muiris holds a Doctorate in Governance from Queen’s University Belfast, an Advanced Diploma in Judicial and Decision-Making Skills from the Law Society of Ireland, and an MSc in Economics (Public Policy) from Trinity College Dublin.
Sarah Johnson
Sarah Johnson is a former solicitor specialising in competition law and regulation. She serves on the Board of the National Treatment Purchase Fund and has also served on the Board of the Road Safety Authority. Prior to this, she was a partner in Philip Lee LLP, a firm specialising in EU and regulatory law, where she for many years advised private and public clients, including governmental bodies such as the Health Service Executive, on the application of EU and competition law. She also represented clients in regulatory litigation before the Irish courts. Sarah holds an LL.B from Trinity College Dublin, an LL.M in European Community Law from the College of Europe, Bruges, and a Diploma in Mediator Training from the Law Society of Ireland.
Susan Ahern
Susan Ahern is a senior counsel, practising barrister, international arbitrator, and mediator specialising in alternative dispute resolution, professional disciplinary regulation, sports law and governance. She currently serves in decision-making roles across tribunal and regulatory bodies in the EU, Ireland, and the UK, including at the European Patent Office, the British Horseracing Authority, the Approved Housing Regulatory Authority Appeals Panel, and the Bookmakers Appeal Committee. She is an Arbitrator Member of the European Commission Dispute Settlement Panel under trade agreements between the EU and third countries, serves as an Arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport and is a member of the ICSID Conciliator Panel.
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