Competition Authority (Ireland)
Encyclopedia
The Competition Authority (TCA) is the statutory body responsible for regulating competition in the Republic of Ireland
. The authority was established under the Section 10 of the Competition Act, 1991 to assume the functions of the defunct Fair Trade Commission. The Competition Act, 2002 changed the authority from an office of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
into an independent body. The principal aims of the authority are to protect consumers from anti-competitive practices, and to prevent abuse of dominant positions by businesses.
The authority is divided into five sections: Cartels, Monopolies, Advocacy, Mergers, and the Chairperson's Office. The authority is a collegiate body, consisting of five full-time members, each heading a division, appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
. There is also an external advisory panel, which advises the authority on legal, policy, management, and strategic issues.
The current Members of the Authority are Chairman William Prasifka and Members Declan Purcell, Stanley Wong and Carolyn Galbreath. The agency attracted international attention within the competition enforcement community when the Irish Government named foreign experts such as former U.S. Federal Trade Commissioner Terry Calvani
to the Authority. The Authority continues to have a broad international makeup both among the Members and the staff of the agency.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The authority was established under the Section 10 of the Competition Act, 1991 to assume the functions of the defunct Fair Trade Commission. The Competition Act, 2002 changed the authority from an office of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation who is assisted by two Ministers of State.-Departmental team:...
into an independent body. The principal aims of the authority are to protect consumers from anti-competitive practices, and to prevent abuse of dominant positions by businesses.
The authority is divided into five sections: Cartels, Monopolies, Advocacy, Mergers, and the Chairperson's Office. The authority is a collegiate body, consisting of five full-time members, each heading a division, appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is the senior minister at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is Richard Bruton, TD...
. There is also an external advisory panel, which advises the authority on legal, policy, management, and strategic issues.
The current Members of the Authority are Chairman William Prasifka and Members Declan Purcell, Stanley Wong and Carolyn Galbreath. The agency attracted international attention within the competition enforcement community when the Irish Government named foreign experts such as former U.S. Federal Trade Commissioner Terry Calvani
Terry Calvani
Terry Calvani is a lawyer, former government officer and university professor. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan, he served one term as Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. He was also a Member of the governing board of the Competition Authority of Ireland, where he held the...
to the Authority. The Authority continues to have a broad international makeup both among the Members and the staff of the agency.