CCPC flags ‘significant harm’ caused by cartels
A major cartel conviction is flagged as a key achievement in the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) annual report for 2025.
The report also has details on prosecutions of four well known retailers – Boots, Lifestyle Sports, DID Electrical Appliances and Rathwood Home & Garden – for breaking pricing laws.
There was also a 31% increase in consumer-protection inspections that resulted in 270 site visits.
More than 276,000 unsafe or non-compliant products were removed or prevented from reaching the Irish market.
Major recalls included over 120,000 circulating pumps and nearly 60,000 air fryers.
The cartel involved five school bus operators, who were convicted of bid-rigging.
Following a CCPC investigation, a Central Criminal Court jury unanimously convicted five private bus and taxi operators for bid-rigging in a publicly funded school transport tender.
The CCPC also said that it secured €350,000 in refunds for more than 4,000 DAA customers who were overcharged during 'flash sales' for car parking at Dublin Airport.
The CCPC also carried out ten unannounced searches (dawn raids) as part of ongoing cartel investigations.
The competition body also appointed a chief adjudication officer and 17 adjudication officers.
It completed 91 merger determinations during 2025, securing commitments in five cases to address competition concerns across key sectors.
Merger notifications increased by almost 10% since 2024 and increased merger-notification thresholds came into effect on 1 July, following CCPC advocacy.
Car history
The CCPC also published research reports with recommendations regarding better access to car history and increased transparency in the home buying process.
CCPC chair Brian McHugh said: "The CCPC had a landmark year in 2025. The conviction of five school bus operators for bid-rigging shows our commitment to tackling serious breaches of competition law and protecting taxpayers, businesses and consumers from the significant harm caused by cartels.”
The CCPC also welcomed an upcoming bill to grant it direct powers to fine businesses for consumer-protection breaches.