Publication of the Amendment to the Irish Competition Bill 2005: Substantial modifications in the grocery trade regime

The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2005 (hereinafter “the Bill”) has been drafted with a view to fulfilling a twofold purpose ; firstly, it will revoke the antiquated Groceries Order 1987 and secondly, it aims to strengthen certain existing elements of the Competition Act, 2002 in order to prevent unfair trading practices in the groceries trade. The Bill was drafted in haste as the decision to amend the 2002 Act had only been reached one month previously ; the Minister highlighted the fact that swift action was needed in order to protect the interests of those involved in the grocery trade and to provide them with certainty as to the rules governing their business. The wheels of the legislative process were set in motion on the 13 December when the Bill was put