Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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20. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the regulations in place for pricing algorithms in the tourism and hospitality sector. [42370/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Dynamic pricing algorithms have been implemented, for instance, by airlines, hotel booking services and transportation network companies to efficiently adjust supply to periods of lower or higher demand, resulting in procompetitive effects. However, competition concerns might arise if companies start sharing the same dynamic pricing algorithm, which may be programmed not to compete against other firms, but to set anti-competitive prices in breach of competition law. Should the Deputy have evidence of any alleged anti- competitive conduct, he should refer the matter to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the statutory body tasked with the enforcement of competition law in the State.