CCPC marks 10th Anniversary with calls for large fines against companies violating consumer law
October 25, 2024
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), Ireland’s statutory body for enforcing consumer protection and competition law, marked its 10 year anniversary with an event held at Dublin’s Gresham Hotel, yesterday.
The occasion was led by CCPC Chair Brian McHugh and attended by Emer Higgins TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Reflecting on a decade of safeguarding consumer rights and promoting fair competition, the event included a series of panel discussions on past achievements and future challenges facing Ireland and its economy. The CCPC was established in October 2014 following the merger of the National Consumer Agency and The Competition Authority.
In his keynote speech, Chairperson Brian McHugh emphasised the need for more substantial penalties for companies that breach the law:
“Current consumer protection regime is no deterrent. The punishment should fit the crime. Fines need to be big enough to stop even the biggest businesses from breaking the law.
This week the Data Protection Commission fined a social media company €310 million, but earlier this year when Tesco pled guilty to failing to display prices correctly, the outcome was a €1,000 donation to charity. The current consumer protection regime is no deterrent; consumers deserve better.
We want the Government to give us the power to impose large fines for serious offences – a percentage of that business’s turnover.”
He further highlighted the persistent issue of consumer protection law violations, which inflict significant damage on Irish consumers and businesses:
“Our inspectors find businesses following the law, showing that it’s not complicated to do so.
To send a clear message to all businesses on the importance of consumer protection law, the punishment should fit the crime. Fines need to be big enough to stop even the largest businesses from breaking the law.”
Minister Emer Higgins praised the CCPC’s decade-long contribution, stating,
Return to News“Over the last decade the CCPC has made a significant impact across competition, consumer protection and product safety. In recognition of its important role in the continued strength of the Irish economy, the Taoiseach’s Competitiveness Summit on 2 September called upon the CCPC to identify and remove barriers to competition in domestic markets, thereby reducing costs for business and consumers.”
