Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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65. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she has satisfied herself that there is diversity and competition within the waste collection market; the examination which the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has carried out in respect of waste companies; the basis on which it can be established that there are no restrictive practices in operation in view of the fact that all companies operating in the market are registered off shore for tax purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32018/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and EU competition law in the State.  Section 9 (5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions. I, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, have no direct function in such matters.

I am informed that the CCPC has engaged extensively both with the sector and with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment on its concerns regarding compliance with both competition and consumer protection legislation. I understand that the CCPC has formed these concerns based on a significant amount of contacts from consumers and anecdotal evidence. In particular, the CCPC has concerns about the extent of competition in some areas, where consumers have little, if any, choice of waste collector. Specifically with regard to anti-competitive behaviour, a number of allegations have been received but with insufficient evidence to merit the CCPC opening formal investigations.

The CCPC is being asked to report on the operation of the household waste collection market in order to inform the future development of national waste management policy before the end of 2017, which will provide an evidence base to establish a regulator to prevent price gouging.

Issues relating to the tax status of waste collection companies do not come within the statutory remit of the CCPC.