2003 represents two significant landmarks in Irish competition law: the 50th anniversary of Ireland's original competition legislation, the Restrictive Trade Practices Act, in 1953; and the 25th anniversary of the Mergers, Takeovers and Monopolies (Control) Act, 1978.

For much of its 50 years, competition law in Ireland has been a quiet backwater. That has changed quite dramatically in little over a decade. The Competition Act, 1991 introduced a modern prohibition-based system of competition legislation. Two further major competition acts have followed since. And European competition law is set to undergo the most radical and fundamental overhaul in its 40-year history: from May next year, all national competition authorities will have power to apply EU as well as national competition law.
As competition law represents a somewhat unique attempt to implement economic policy by legal means, the aim of Competition & Regulation in Ireland is to provide the reader with an insight into the interaction between law and economics, an essential element of competition law. In addition to providing the reader with a guide to the relevant jurisprudence, it seeks to analyse the economic principles underlying competition law and to take into account the interaction between competition and regulation in many sectors of economic activity.

The authors' experience combines to provide a unique insight into this fast-developing and important area of Irish business.

Book Contents

Author Biography