Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can assure the Deputy that none of those details was provided. As I said earlier, the only function of the authority, myself and the Department was with regard to the effect of this transaction on competition in the Irish economy. No examination or briefing was provided on any other aspects of the transaction or the companies involved. To have done so would have been to act outside our powers. This was a limited issue in respect of whether the sale would have an impact on competition, and the information provided to the Competition Authority was solely on that basis. On that basis it advised that it would have no adverse impact on competition in the Irish market.

See this speech in context