James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the legislative changes that are planned in the area of competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18790/22]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I am currently bringing the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 through the Oireachtas, and was very grateful to my Select Committee colleagues for their support in concluding Committee stage of the Bill yesterday morning. The purpose of this Bill is to give effect to Directive 2019/1 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 to empower the competition authorities of the Member States to be more effective enforcers and to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market (ECN+). The ECN+ system is intended to ensure effective and consistent application of the EU laws with close cooperation by its members. It will implement one item from the Programme for Government when it puts in place a new legal regime which allows the CCPC and ComReg to use administrative financial sanctions when dealing with infringements of competition law.

Furthermore, the Bill will strengthen the powers of the State in tackling white collar crime, economic crime and corruption, as part of the response to the Hamilton Report (Review of Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption) which was published by Minister McEntee in December 2020.

I look forward to the continuing support of my parliamentary colleagues as I seek to conclude the passage of this Bill through the Oireachtas before the summer recess.