Economics Aidan Regan: Why the Apple tax saga is really about antitrust and competition law Does granting specific tax measures provide selective advantage to firms with ‘significant market power’? The European Court of Justice’s recent legal opinion says that it does
Regulation Beefed-up competition watchdog on the trail of cartelsNew chairman of CCPC says agency’s new powers will be used to target ‘criminals in suits’ who are costing the taxpayer several billion yearly
business Breaking up is hard to do: how the US is planning to crack down on monopoliesAs Ticketmaster-Live Nation’s market dominance in the event ticketing industry comes under scrutiny by the US Department of Justice, will this investigation pave the way for antitrust enforcement in the future?
Property Irish holiday home buyers in France win review of alleged scamFrench watchdog’s reports means fines could be levied against the bodies that allegedly missold the French leaseback properties to 150 Irish buyers
Insurance Insurance Ireland facing heavy fines over claims data accessLobby group must meet commitments that would allow new entrants to the sector to access to a key claims information database
Editorial: Toothless regulators see insurance industry walk away unscathed again Nothing will change if repeat offenders continue to be allowed walk away with barely a slap on the wrist
Insurance Insurers to pick and pay ‘independent’ overseersThe result of a dropped five-year investigation by the CCPC into insurance industry practices is being heavily criticised
CCPC closes investigation into alleged cartel-like behaviour in insurance industry AIG Europe, Allianz, Axa Insurance, Aviva, FBD and AA Ireland to implement internal competition law compliance programmes
Competition watchdog drops probe of restaurant bodyThe Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is no longer investigating the Restaurants Association of Ireland over a no-refund deposit policy on ‘no-shows’ among its members that it believed could have breached competition law
French prosecutor to review report on row over holiday homes Irish owners of leaseback properties in France have waited years for competition authorities from both countries to start an investigation into the invesment deal
Editorial: State must play a more active role in insurance reformInsurance Ireland was found to have broken EU competition rules, and its delay in acting on these finding leaves room for more concern
French consumer watchdog probes holiday home scam Irish counterpart CCPC has told 150 complainants here it may pursue agents involved in leaseback scheme currently under criminal investigation
Law Society warns against new powers given to watchdogsLegal group claims that proposed changes to the forthcoming competition bill would damage Ireland’s attractiveness as an investment location