1 RELEVANT AUTHORITIES AND LEGISLATION
1.1 Who is/are the relevant merger authority(ies)?
The Irish Competition Authority (the "Competition
Authority") is an independent body responsible for the
promotion and enforcement of competition law in Ireland. The
workings of the Competition Authority are governed by the
Competition Acts, 2002 – 2012, (the "Competition
Act"). Part 3 of the Competition Act, which came into force on
1 January 2003, governs Ireland's merger control regime.
Currently, the Competition Authority has sole responsibility for
non-media mergers and mergers not involving "credit
institutions" necessary to maintain the stability of the
financial system of the State. Currently, each of the Competition
Authority and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (the
"Minister") has a role as regards media mergers. Draft
legislation in the form of the Consumer and Competition Law Bill is
expected to be published in late 2013 and is discussed
