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An Bille um Iomaíocht agus Cosaint Tomhaltóirí, 2014 Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014 EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM - PDF
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1 An Bille um Iomaíocht agus Cosaint Tomhaltóirí, 2014 Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2014 EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM Introduction The purpose of this Bill is to provide for the establishment of a body to be known in the Irish language as An Coimisiún um Iomaíocht agus Cosaint Tomhaltóirí or in the English language the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, to provide for the dissolution of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency, to amend the law relating to media mergers, to provide for enabling regulations to regulate for certain practices in the grocery goods sector and for that and other purposes to amend the Competition Act 2002, to amend the Consumer Protection Act 2007, the Criminal Justice Act 2011 and the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, and to provide for related matters. Provisions of the Bill The Bill comprises 7 parts. Part 1 covers Sections 1 to 5 and deals with preliminary and general provisions. Section 1 contains the short title, collective citation, construction and a standard provision for the commencement of Sections of the Bill by Ministerial Order. Specific provision is made for the commencement of Sections of the Bill concerning media mergers by Ministerial Order by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Section 2 contains definitions and terms used in the Bill. Section 3 contains the standard regulations and order provisions. Specific provision is made in relation to Ministerial Orders concerning media mergers to be made by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Section 4 contains the standard provision dealing with expenses incurred in the administration of the Act. Section 5 contains details of repealed Acts. Part 2 covers Sections 6 to 45 and deals with the establishment of the new Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and the dissolution of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency and the powers of the CCPC s authorised officers. 1
2 Chapter 1 covers Sections 6 to 32 and deals with the establishment of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). It also deals with the functions, structure and proceedings of the new CCPC, the staffing of the CCPC, the appointment of authorised officers to the CCPC and other related matters. Section 6 provides for the appointment by Ministerial Order for the establishment day of the new body. Section 7 provides for the establishment of the new Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) as well containing provisions relating to its seal and its independence in the performance of certain functions on establishment (e.g. enforcement). Section 8 sets out the functions of the CCPC. This consolidates, into the CCPC, the functions that had applied to the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency under their respective statutes. These functions include provisions allowing for the promotion of competition, promotion and protection of the interests and welfare of consumers, enforcement of and ensuring compliance with relevant statutory provisions, investigating suspected breaches of relevant provisions (including breaches of Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), setting the strategic objectives of the CCPC, advising Government, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and any other Minister or public body in relation to any matter (including legislation) likely to impact on consumer protection and welfare or competition, promotion through public awareness and information campaigns, promotion of the development of alternative dispute resolution procedures as a means of resolving disputes arising out of certain consumer transactions, preparation of guidelines, reviewing and approving certain codes of practice, promotion of the interests of consumers of financial services, co-operation with similar bodies (either in the State or beyond), undertaking relevant research, supporting (if deemed appropriate by the CCPC) voluntary bodies whose activities cover consumer protection and welfare or competition, and carrying out studies on any issue relating to consumer protection and welfare or competition (either at the request of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation or on its own initiative). The Section also provides that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation may request the CCPC to carry out studies or analyses into issues that come under its remit. Finally, the Section provides that the Commission may only delegate certain functions. Section 9 provides for supplementary powers in respect of its financial information and education functions including undertaking studies, analyses and surveys with respect to the provision of financial services to consumers. These powers include compelling persons to provide information or to appear in person before the Commission. Any person causing an obstruction in this regard is guilty of an offence and on conviction may be fined or imprisoned or both. Section 10 provides for the membership of the CCPC including appointments and remuneration. It provides that a person who immediately before the establishment day was either a member of the Competition Authority or the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Consumer Agency shall be a member of the new Commission. The Chairperson of the Competition Authority shall become the Chairperson of the Commission on the establishment day. The Commission will consist of a Chairperson and between 2 and 6 whole-time members which, apart from existing incumbent 2
3 members of the Competition Authority and the CEO of the National Consumer Agency, must be appointed by the Minister following recruitment in accordance with the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 for a fixed term period of no more than 5 years. In addition, the Section provides that Members are eligible for reappointment, for the appointment of temporary members by the Minister for an aggregate period of not more than 12 months where vacancies arise, for the resignation of members and for the removal of members in certain circumstances. Section 11 provides that members of the CCPC, including the Chairperson, a member of staff of CCPC and authorised officers, may be indemnified by the CCPC against all actions or claims in respect of the discharge by them of their duties provided such duties were discharged in good faith. Section 12 provides for the functions of the chairperson of the CCPC which are to manage and control the general administration of the Commission. Section 13 provides for the meetings and procedures of the new body: it provides that the quorum for a meeting shall be 3 (unless otherwise directed by the Minister), that the Commission can meet even if vacancies exist at member-level and that every question, on which a vote is required at the meeting of the Commission, shall be determined by a majority of the votes of those members present: the Chairperson will have a casting vote in the case of a tie. Section 14 provides that where a member of the CCPC is nominated to Seanad Éireann, elected as a member of the Oireachtas, becomes a member of the European Parliament (EP) or is elected or co-opted as a member of a Local Authority, then they will cease to be a member of the CCPC. Any member of staff of the CCPC shall stand seconded from the CCPC if they are nominated to Seanad Éireann, are elected as a member of the Oireachtas, become a member of the EP or are elected or co-opted as a member of a Local Authority. Equally, any person who is entitled to sit in the Houses of the Oireachtas, is a member of the EP or is entitled to sit as a member of a Local Authority is disqualified from being a member of the CCPC or to be employed by the CCPC. Section 15 provides a role for the CCPC in reviewing and submitting proposals for legislation relating to consumer protection and welfare and competition issues and also gives the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the power to consult the CCPC in relation to legislative proposals for consumer protection and welfare and competition. Section 16 gives the CCPC investigative powers including the power to summons witnesses, examine witnesses on oath, requiring witnesses to produce records, etc. This Section also provides that it is an offence to give false or misleading information to the CCPC, to fail to attend as a witness before the CCPC following a summons to attend, to refuse to take an oath or produce records when requested to do so by the CCPC or to engage in any activity that would be deemed to be contempt of court (if the Commission were a court with powers to commit for contempt of court). Section 17 provides that the CCPC may enter into co-operation agreements with a number of other prescribed bodies mainly sectoral regulators (e.g. the Commission for Aviation Regulation, the Commission for Communications Regulation, the Commission for Energy Regulation or the Health Insurance Authority) to facilitate 3
4 co-operation in the areas of consumer protection and welfare and competition, avoid duplication of activities, help ensure consistency between decisions made by the bodies and engage in joint studies. The Section also provides that the agreements shall be in writing and that the relevant Ministers be copied with the agreements. It also provides that other bodies may be added to the list of specified bodies by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in consultation with other relevant Ministers. Section 18 provides that the Minister may give general policy directions to the Commission in relation to the performance of its functions (with the exception of the functions reserved to the CCPC e.g. enforcement functions) which the Commission shall comply with and lay copies of those written directions before each House of the Oireachtas. Section 19 provides that the Minister may advance monies to the CCPC out of monies provided by the Oireachtas with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Section 20 relates to the power of the CCPC to borrow money (with the consent of the Ministers for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and for Public Expenditure and Reform). Section 21 provides for the CCPC to be able to agree arrangements for the exchange of information with similar bodies abroad. Section 22 provides for the disclosure by the CCPC to named bodies of information relating to offences and provides for those bodies to disclose information in relation to the commission of an offence under the relevant statutory provisions to the CCPC. Section 23 prohibits the unauthorised disclosure of any confidential information coming into the possession of the CCPC in the course of the exercise of its functions and provides that anyone doing so is guilty of an offence. Section 24 provides for the accountability of the chairperson of the CCPC to the Public Accounts Committee. Section 25 provides for the accountability of the chairperson of the CCPC to other Oireachtas Committees (other than the Public Accounts Committee). Section 26 provides that the CCPC may appoint its own staff on terms and conditions to be determined by the CCPC with the consent of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Section 27 provides that the CCPC shall prepare a scheme(s) for the granting of superannuation benefits. Section 28 obliges the CCPC to submit a strategy statement to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation every 3 years (including the information to be included in the strategy) which the Minister will cause to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It also provides that the CCPC will publish this strategy on the internet as soon as practicable after the strategy statement has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Section also provides that the CCPC will provide a work programme annually to the Minister. The Minister may also issue directions or guidelines to the CCPC concerning the preparation of that programme with which the CCPC shall comply. 4
5 Section 29 contains standard provisions requiring the CCPC to furnish Annual Accounts which the Minister will cause to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Section 30 contains standard provisions requiring the CCPC to furnish an Annual Report which the Commission will publish, as soon as practicable, after it has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Minister. Section 31 provides for protection of persons who report breaches of relevant statutory provisions and provides for offences for false reporting of alleged breaches. Section 32 provides for a procedure for dealing with claims of legal privilege. Chapter 2 covers Sections 33 to 36 and deals with the authorised officers powers in the CCPC. Section 33 contains definitions and terms used in this Chapter. Section 34 contains provisions relating to the appointment of authorised officers and the issuing of warrants of appointment. The Section also provides for an offence for anyone falsely representing themselves as an authorised officer. It also provides for an offence for anyone obstructing or impeding an authorised officer in the course of his/her duties, failing to comply with a request or requirement of an authorised officer without reasonable excuse or supplying false or misleading information to an authorised officer. Finally, the Section provides that an authorised officer may serve a summons in certain cases. Section 35 provides for the powers of the authorised officers in relation to their functions relating to non-competition law offences including consumer protection and grocery goods provisions and largely replicates many of the powers set out in the Consumer Protection Act Section 36 provides for the powers of the authorised officers in relation to their functions relating to competition law offences and largely replicates many of the powers set out in the Competition Act It also provides that an authorised officer may attend, with a member of An Garda Síochána, any questioning of a suspect and participate in any such questioning. The Section also provides for the power to use recordings as evidence in trials, analogous to those set out in sections 56 and 57 of the Criminal Justice Act Chapter 3 covers Sections 37 to 45 and deals with the dissolution of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority and related matters. Section 37 provides for the formal dissolution of the two existing bodies (Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency) on establishment day of the new body. Section 38 provides for the transfer of functions to the CCPC from the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority. Section 39 covers the transfer of staff from the existing two bodies to the new CCPC on establishment day. Section 40 covers the transfer of land and other property from the existing two bodies to the new CCPC on establishment day. 5
6 Section 41 deals with the transfer of rights, liabilities, continuation of leases, licences and permissions from the existing two bodies to the new CCPC on establishment day. Section 42 deals with liability for loss occurring before establishment day. Section 43 covers provisions consequent upon the transfer of functions, assets and liabilities of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency to the CCPC. Section 44 is a standard provision relating to the savings for certain acts of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency before establishment day. Section 45 provides for the preparation by the CCPC of final accounts and final annual report of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency. Part 3 covers Sections 46 to 68 and deals with miscellaneous amendments to the Competition Act Section 46 amends the definition of authorised officer in Section 3(1) of the Competition Act, 2002 to reflect the new definition in Section 2 of the Bill. The Section also deletes the definition of Commission (which had referred to the Commission for Communications Regulation in the Competition Act 2002) and updates the definition of competent authority. Section 47 provides for a technical amendment to Section 12 of the Competition Act Section 48 amends Section 14B(1) of the Competition Act 2002 by adding the Commission for Communications Regulation to the list of relevant bodies that can seek undertakings to be made a rule of Court. Section 49 provides for a technical amendment to Section 15C of the Competition Act 2002 consequential on the Competition (Amendment) Act 2012 which inserted that Section into the 2002 Act. Section 50 provides for an amendment to Section 16 of the Competition Act 2002 dealing with mergers and acquisitions including an extension of the definition of individuals, an amendment to provide that goodwill is included in the meaning of the term asset for the purposes of the Part and amendment to the situations where a merger or acquisition is not deemed to have occurred. Section 51 provides for a technical amendment to Section 17 of the Competition Act 2002, consequential on the new Part 3A dealing with media mergers. Section 52 provides for an amendment to Section 18 of the Competition Act 2002 regarding obligations to notify certain mergers and acquisitions. Section 53 provides for an amendment to Section 19 of the Competition Act 2002 by amending the timelines for mergers or acquisitions being put into effect. Section 54 provides for an amendment to Section 20 of the Competition Act 2002 regarding the examination of the notification 6
7 by the Commission, including providing for requests for extensions of the time-limits by the undertaking(s) concerned in the merger or acquisition. Section 55 provides for an amendment to Section 21 of the Competition Act 2002 by inserting working days for days or months. Section 56 provides for an amendment to Section 22 of the Competition Act 2002 by inserting working days for months and provides for the suspension of the time periods pending receipt of further information required from the undertaking(s) concerned in the merger or acquisition. Section 57 provides for an amendment to Section 24 of the Competition Act 2002 on appeals to the High Court on determinations by the Commission, consequential on the insertion of a new Part 3A on media mergers. Section 58 provides for technical amendments to Section 26 of the Competition Act 2002 (consequential on the insertion of a new Part 3A on media mergers) and inserts a clause to the effect that the Commission may monitor or review commitments contained in a determination. Section 59 provides for a technical amendment to Section 28 of the Competition Act of Section 60 amends Section 47(2) of the Competition Act 2002 by substituting Commission for Communications Regulation for Commission. Section 61 amends Section 47A of the Competition Act 2002 by substituting Commission for Communications Regulation for Commission and including a reference to Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in Sections 4 and 5 respectively. Section 62 amends Section 47B of the Competition Act 2002 by substituting references to Commission with Commission for Communications Regulation. Section 63 amends 47C of the Competition Act 2002 by substituting Commission for Communications Regulation for Commission. Section 64 amends Section 47D of the Competition Act 2002 by substituting references to Commission with Commission for Communications Regulation. Section 65 amends Section 47E of the Competition Act 2002 by substituting references to Commission with Commission for Communications Regulation. Section 66 amends Section 47F of the Competition Act 2002 by substituting Commission for Communications Regulation for Commission. Section 67 amends Section 47G of the Competition Act 2002 by substituting references to Commission with Commission for Communications Regulation. 7
8 Section 68 provides for a technical amendment to Section 52 of the Competition Act Part 4 covers Section 69 and deals with media mergers. Section 69 amends the Competition Act 2002 by inserting a new Part on Media Mergers after Part 3 which deals with Mergers and Acquisitions (viz. Part 3A with new Sections 28A to 28O). Section 28A sets out the definitions of terms relating to media mergers including for example the definition of carries on a media business in the State, plurality of the media, media business, diversity of content, diversity of ownership, media merger and relevant criteria used in this part of the Act. Section 28B provides that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources must be notified in writing by the undertakings of the proposal to put the media merger or acquisition into effect and sets out the process associated with such procedures. The notification must be made on or before the relevant date. The Section provides that notifying parties must furnish full information and any changes to that information on all circumstances in relation to the media merger concerned that might impair plurality of the media in the State. The Section also provides that the CCPC must notify the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources of its determination on the media merger notification: in the case of a media merger notified to the EU Commission, the undertaking(s) concerned must notify the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources of its determination. The Section also provides for offences for failure to notify. Section 28C provides for the limitation on media mergers being put into effect. A merger shall be deemed void if it has been put into effect before the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources makes a determination or if it has not been put into effect within 12 months of the determination being made. Section 28D provides that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources must inform the undertakings within 30 working days (or 45 working days if further proposals are submitted by the undertakings involved) of the notification to him or her of his or her determination to clear, to clear with conditions or to proceed to request the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to carry out an investigation. It also sets out the information the Minister shall have regard to in making a determination. The Minister may enter into discussion with the undertakings with a view to gaining certain commitments that protects media plurality in the State. The Minister must publish a statement of the reasons for his or her making a determination on the date on which the determination is made. Section 28E provides for the undertaking of a full media merger investigation and sets out the process and the criteria to be followed in cases where the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has made a determination that such an investigation is warranted. The BAI will be requested by the Minister to undertake such an investigation, taking into account factors set out in the Section. The BAI must cause a copy of the request to be published on its website, must invite submissions and must cause a copy of the request to be sent to the relevant Oireachtas Committee inviting a submission from it within a specified time period. The BAI is allowed to enter into discussions with the undertakings involved with a view 8
9 to identifying measures which would ameliorate any effects of the media merger on plurality of the media in the State and it must provide its draft report and draft recommendation to the undertakings involved. The BAI has 80 working days to report back to the Minister including a recommendation on whether the media merger should be put into effect with or without conditions or should not be put into effect on foot of its investigation. The Section also provides for consultation with the undertakings concerned on the draft report and recommendations. Section 28F allows the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to establish an Advisory Panel to provide its opinion to the BAI on the application of the relevant criteria to the media merger in question once it becomes a full media merger investigation. The Panel should consist of between 3 and 5 persons of requisite experience appointed by the Minister and those persons must not be a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas, European Parliament or a Local Authority. Neither should they have a beneficial interest in any matter which is to be considered by the Advisory Panel. The Panel must produce a report on the relevant criteria within 20 working days from the date of the request and must provide clarification of its opinion in writing if requested by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Once the Minister makes a determination under Section 28G, the Panel will become dissolved. Section 28G provides for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to make a determination after a full investigation. The Section provides that the Minister must make his or her determination on whether the media merger may be put into effect, may not be put into effect or may be put into effect, subject to the conditions specified in the determination being complied with within 20 working days of receiving the report and recommendation from the BAI. It sets out the information the Minster must have regard to including submissions provided to him or her and to the BAI or by the relevant Oireachtas Committee. It also provides that the Minister must supply the undertakings with a copy of the determination and lists which aspects of the determination the Minister may publish pre and post correspondence with the undertakings involved. Section 28H provides for a review of conditions in any determination within 40 days from the date of notification where all undertakings involved in the media merger are of the opinion that the market conditions applicable to the merger have substantially changed since the date of the BAI report to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources under Section 28E. It includes provision that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources may, within 40 working days, with the consent of all of the undertakings, amend or revoke in writing one or more conditions made in the original determination after the parties have sent a formal request to review the determination. Section 28I provides for the enforcement of the terms of a determination. It allows the High Court to grant an injunction to enforce compliance on the motion of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. It does not affect the right of the Minister to bring other proceedings to enforce compliance. It lays down the penalties for non-compliance and provides that a person guilty of an offence shall be liable on summary conviction to a class A fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding 10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 9
10 2 years or both. Any person who aids another person in any way to commit an offence, shall be guilty of an offence and be liable for the penalties set out under subsection (3) where it is proven that an offence was committed by a person while acting on behalf of an incorporated or unincorporated body of persons, that person shall be guilty of an offence. It sets out daily fines for the continuation of an offence. The Minister may bring summary proceedings in relation to an offence. Section 28J sets out the procedures for granting leave to be granted for judicial review for any determination made by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Section 28K provides that the BAI may charge fees to recover some or all of the costs incurred by it during a full investigation of a media merger that is requested by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Section 28L provides that the Minister may issue guidelines to assist undertakings involved in media mergers in knowing how the Minister would, in general, apply the relevant criteria. Before issuing guidelines, the Minister must publish draft guidelines on the internet and allow 30 working days for stakeholder consultation. Section 28M provides additional functions to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland which relate to the publishing of a report on the state of media in the State. Specifically, within one year of the commencement of the Section, the BAI must publish a report on the operation of media in the State and such a report must be updated every three years thereafter. The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. Section 28N refers to the disclosure of confidential information of persons performing functions under the Act, whether they are employed by or work for the BAI or whether they sit on the Advisory Panel, unless duly authorised to do so by the BAI and makes it an offence to contravene this Section. Section 28O provides that any expenses incurred in the administration of this Part of the Act, once sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, will be paid by moneys provided by the Oireachtas. Part 5 covers Sections 70 to 75 and deals with miscellaneous amendments to the Consumer Protection Act Section 70 amends Section 2 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 in relation to the definitions of authorised officer, consumer, goods and transactional decision to reflect the new definitions in this Bill. Section 71 amends Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 (as amended by the Central Bank Reform Act 2010) for the CCPC to request certain information which may be required in relation to the calculation of levies to be imposed on financial institutions in connection with the funding of its financial education and information function: it also provides that failure to comply with these requests constitutes an offence. The Section also provides for arrangements for the secondment of certain Central Bank employees to the CCPC. Section 72 provides for an amendment to Section 55 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 to clarify the prohibited commercial 10
11 activity that traders shall not engage in, relating to the language of any interaction with the consumer concerned. Section 73 provides for a technical amendment to Section 83 of the Consumer Protection Act Section 74 provides for a technical amendment to Section 90 of the Consumer Protection Act Section 75 provides for miscellaneous consequential amendments to the Consumer Protection Act Part 6 covers Sections 76 to 78: they provide for enabling provisions dealing with the regulation of certain practices between relevant grocery goods undertakings. It amends Part 3 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 by inserting a new Part on Grocery Goods Undertakings after Chapter 4 of that Act as well as two other amendments to that Act. Section 76 amends the Consumer Protection Act 2007 by inserting a new Chapter 5 which includes 4 new Sections (new Sections 63A to 63D) after Chapter 4 in Part 3 of that Act. Section 63A sets out the definitions of terms relating to the new provisions including: grocery goods ; grocery goods undertaking ; marketing costs ; payment ; promotion ; relevant grocery goods undertaking ; related undertaking ; retailer ; shrinkage ; supplier ; wastage and wholesaler. Section 63B confers powers on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to make regulations in respect of certain aspects of the commercial relationships between relevant grocery goods undertakings and specifies those matters on which the Minister may make such regulations (including the form of contract to be entered into; the circumstances in which a contract may be varied, terminated or renewed; the circumstances in which the arrangements of the contract for supply and delivery of grocery goods may be varied; the manner in which specific terms such as payment or sale of goods on promotion are to be incorporated into contracts for the sale or supply of grocery goods; the manner in which payment for the resolution of a customer complaint may be determined between grocery goods undertakings; the conditions under which retailers may or may not require suppliers to obtain any goods, services or property from a third party where the retailer obtains any payment for such an arrangement; provisions relating to delays and failures due to circumstances outside the reasonable control of a party; limitation on the circumstances in which payment may be sought from a grocery goods undertaking for shrinkage, wastage or marketing costs; the circumstances in which a relevant grocery goods undertaking may or may not charge a consideration for listing grocery goods; set out the manner in which forecasts for the supply of grocery goods are to be prepared and communicated; specify the circumstances in which a relevant grocery goods undertaking may or may not seek payment from a supplier to secure better positioning or an increase in the allocation of shelf space for that supplier s goods; to prohibit a relevant grocery goods undertaking from directly or indirectly compelling a grocery goods undertaking to make any payment or consideration for the promotion or advertisement of grocery goods on that party s premises; provide for further arrangements regarding promotions of grocery goods; specify limitations for compelling grocery goods undertakings to participate in promotions or similar activities in support of grocery goods; specify the arrangements for the preparation of an annual compliance report with these 11
12 regulations by the relevant grocery goods undertaking and for submission to the statutory authority; provide for the maintenance of records and the period for which those records are held relating to compliance activities by the relevant grocery goods undertaking; the manner and timeframe in which payments for grocery goods supplied to relevant grocery goods undertakings are to be made; designation and training arrangements for staff in relevant grocery goods undertakings; the nature and type of documents that must be retained by a relevant grocery goods undertaking and the length of time they should be kept). The Section also provides that regulations issued under this Section only apply to contracts entered into or renewed on or after the date of entry into operation of the regulations. Finally, this Section also provides for the issuing of guidelines on the regulations by the Minister. Section 63C provides for the inspection and investigation of relevant Grocery Goods Undertakings by the CCPC to monitor compliance with any regulations. It also provides that where the CCPC has reasonable grounds for believing that a relevant grocery goods undertaking has failed or is failing to comply with the regulations, it may investigate the potential breach or any complaints it receives in relation to any such alleged failure. Provision is also made to allow the CCPC to make preliminary enquiries for the purposes of deciding whether the investigation of a complaint is justified and to request the complainant to provide further written particulars of the complaint within a specified time period. Provision is also made to allow the CCPC decide to discontinue any such investigation if the complainant fails to supply the requested information and to notify the complainant in writing of any decision not to investigate or discontinue an investigation, together with the reasons for this decision. The Section also provides that the CCPC may decide not to investigate a complaint in certain circumstances (e.g. it considers the complaint is vexatious or trivial). Section 63D provides for the issuing of contravention notices by the CCPC where it is of the opinion that a relevant grocery goods undertaking is contravening or has contravened any provision of any regulations under this Section. Provision is made for an authorised officer to issue a contravention notice to a relevant grocery goods undertaking to remedy the contravention by a date specified. The Section also provides for an appeal by the relevant grocery goods undertaking to any such contravention notice. Section 63E provides that failure to comply with a contravention notice constitutes an offence. The Section also makes it an offence to fail to comply with any regulations made under this Section. Sanctions for such offences may be pursued summarily or on indictment with fines as follows (set out in section 79 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007): (1) A person guilty of an offence under this Act is liable on summary conviction to the following fines and penalties: (a) on a first summary conviction for any such offence, to a fine not exceeding 3,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both; (b) on any subsequent summary conviction for the same offence to a fine not exceeding 5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both. (2) If, after being convicted of an offence, the person referred to in subsection (1) continues to contravene the requirement or prohibition to which the offence relates, the person is guilty of 12
13 a further offence on each day that the contravention continues and for each such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 500. (3) A person guilty of an offence is liable on conviction on indictment to the following fines and penalties: (a) on a first conviction on indictment for any such offence, to a fine not exceeding 60,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 18 months or both; (b) on any subsequent conviction on indictment for the same offence to a fine not exceeding 100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 24 months or both. Finally, the Section provides that anyone who is aggrieved by the failure of a relevant grocery goods undertaking to comply with any regulations or with any compliance notice issued under this Section, shall have the right of action for relief against that relevant grocery goods undertaking in the Circuit Court (any such relief, including exemplary damages, not being in excess of the limits of the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court in an action founded on tort). Section 77 amends Section 86 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 to ensure there is no double entry of undertakings on lists currently provided for under Section 86 and those proposed under the new Section 86A (see Section 78 below). Section 78 amends Part 5 of the the Consumer Protection Act 2007 by inserting a new Chapter 6A after Chapter 6 and provides (in a new Section 86A) for the power of the CCPC to publish a list of relevant grocery goods undertakings who have been found guilty of contravening the regulations made under Part 5 or against which contravention notices have issued under Section 63A-63D. Part 7 covers Section 79 to 81 and deals with miscellaneous amendments. Section 79 amends the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 by providing the powers for a member of the CCPC to seek data relating to certain competition law offences and for a number of consequent technical amendments to that Act. Section 80 amends the Criminal Justice Act 2011 to include offences under Section 6 of the Competition Act 2002 in Schedule 1 of the 2011 Act. Section 81 amends the European Communities (Cross-Border Merger) Regulations 2008 as a consequence of the amendments made to the Competition Act 2002 by this Bill in relation to mergers and media mergers. Schedule 1 contains details of the procedure for redress for employees who are impacted by Section 31 of the Bill (Section 31 provides for protection of persons who report breaches of relevant statutory provisions and provides for offences for false reporting of alleged breaches). Márta, Wt /14. Clondalkin. (43798). Gr