Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on whether the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has personnel with adequate experience and skills and has the legislative backing to investigate waste collection companies operating here, particularly in relation to allegations of corporate collusion on routes and areas to be serviced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20666/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, 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, including carrying out investigations of alleged anti-competitive practices.  As investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the day-to-day operational work of the CCPC, I, as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, have no direct function in the matter.

My Department has been informed by the CCPC that it is satisfied that it has personnel with experience and relevant skills employed by it to investigate alleged breaches of competition law in the waste sector.

If the Deputy is aware of any alleged anti-competitive behaviour that is being practised in the waste sector, I would urge him to forward details to the CCPC for their attention.