Dr Bunworth’s article arrives at a critical juncture for merger control. Ireland has long held a position of disproportionate importance within the European Union due to the high volume of multinational corporate investment, particularly across the digital and pharmaceutical sectors.

The research traces the CCPC’s activities over a five-year period (2020–2024), identifying a clear shift toward more aggressive enforcement. Key observations from the study include:

  • Increased Prohibitions: A marked willingness by the CCPC to prohibit transactions that previously might have proceeded.
  • Extensive Remedies: An upward trend in the CCPC requiring rigorous remedies across a variety of complex cases.
  • Interventionist Stance: The adoption of a more assertive position compared to historical norms.

Dr Bunworth explain that the CCPC’s "interventionist" approach offers lessons for other comparatively sized competition authorities within the European Competition Network (ECN).

👉 Read the full article here: https://kluwerlawonline.com/journalarticle/World+Competition/48.4/WOCO2025032