IFA president Joe Healy has hit back at the refusal of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) to investigate the ABP-Slaney deal.

The commission has written to the IFA president explaining that its interpretation of the conditions under which the matter could be referred back to the competition authorities in the member state as opposed to the EU have not been met. Under the EU Merger Regulation (Article 9), the Irish CCPC could request that the matter be referred back to it even though it has been formally notified to the EU competition authorities. One of the criteria to make such an application is that “the transaction threatens to affect significantly competition in a market within the member state concerned, which presents all the characteristics of a distinct market”.

The IFA does not accept the CCPC’s refusal to get involved and Joe Healy said on Thursday: “Minister Creed cannot allow the Irish competition authority to escape their responsibilities and pass the buck on to Brussels.”

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