Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress being made in examining the role of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in protecting and enhancing consumer protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62153/25]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) continues to play a vital and evolving role in safeguarding consumer rights and promoting fair competition in Ireland. As an independent statutory body under the remit of my Department, the CCPC enforces consumer protection legislation across a wide range of sectors, including goods, services, product safety, and digital markets. The CCPC also plays a key role in consumer education and advocacy. Its remit has expanded significantly in recent years, reflecting both domestic legislative reform and new EU obligations.

I’m pleased to be in a position to report on progress made by the CCPC. Just this week, my Department took a Memo for the Information of the Government providing an update on progress made in strengthening competition and consumer protection, in line with both commitment from the Programme for Government and actions from the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity relating to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).

I’d like to highlight the measures undertaken by my Department to strengthen the CCPC’s mandate through the addition to and enhancement of its senior leadership team whilst also working in tandem with a review of the current legislative framework.

A Periodic Critical Review (PCR) concluded that the CCPC is operating effectively, has sound internal governance and has demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in responding to a dynamic external environment.

Following on from the PCR, officials in my Department have worked closely with the CCPC to undertake a review of its senior leadership structure. As part of this, the senior executive capacity of the CCPC has been reinforced.

As such, my Department has recently appointed new Member of the CCPC, who will take up the position in January 2026. In addition, the recruitment of an additional member is ongoing, and the CCPC has recently commenced the recruitment of two Senior Directors who will have a direct role in supporting the Members of the CCPC to ensure it can continue to deliver on its important brief. These appointments will drive robust enforcement outcomes under the new administrative regime and enhance the CCPC’s influence in market reform and international engagement.

Aligning with the Government’s broader ambition to “control the controllables” and forming part of a suite of actions under the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity, which includes targeted reforms within the CCPC’s remit, my Department is undertaking a review of the current legislative framework governing consumer protection fines, with the objective of strengthening enforcement provisions and ensuring greater deterrence against breaches.

It is envisaged that future penalties will be aligned with those applicable to competition law infringements, thereby enhancing consistency and impact across the regulatory landscape.

These actions aim to simplify regulatory processes, strengthen domestic competition, and reinforce Ireland’s consumer protection regime—ensuring a fairer, more transparent marketplace that supports both economic resilience and consumer confidence. By ensuring that all businesses operate to the same high standards, stronger enforcement also helps maintain a level playing field—supporting fair competition and rewarding compliant, consumer-focused firms.

These ongoing actions underscore both my and this Government’s commitment to supporting the CCPC’s mandate in safeguarding consumer rights and promoting fair competition in Ireland.