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Market Studies carried out by the Competition Authority

A Market Study is one of the ways the Competition Authority promotes competition in the economy. The aim of a Market Study is to assess competition in a particular area and recommend ways of improving it so that consumers benefit. The Competition Authority continuously advocates for its recommendations to be implemented.

The Authority welcomed the Government announcement in late 2008 that it would, in future, “… publish a whole-of-Government response to recommendations contained in reports of the Competition Authority within nine months of their publication”. The Government's first statement responding to our recommendations is available here.

The Authority has published studies on competition in many sectors of the economy. These studies have led to changes in laws, regulations and practices that were negatively affecting competition.

Implementing our recommendations does not mean that the sector has been given a "clean bill of health".  Recommendations aim to encourage and facilitate competition but they do not guarantee it. We will pursue any evidence of cartels, abuses of dominance, and other illegal activities in any sector of the economy, including those sectors that have been the subject of a market study.

This page provides a full list of our market studies. For a hard copy of any report, please contact us.

Professional Services

Profession Publication Date
General Medical Practitioners December 2009 (Part I & II), July 2010 (Part III)
Veterinary Practitioners June 2008
Solicitors & Barristers December 2006
Dentists October 2007
Optometrists June 2006
Architects March 2006
Engineers December 2004

Sectoral Studies

Publication Publication Date
Retail-related Import and Distribution June 2009
Grocery Monitor Project April & September 2008
Private Health Insurance Market January 2007
Banking Sector in Ireland (non-investment banking) September 2005
The Insurance Market (non-life insurance) March 2005
Casual Trading 2002
Transport 1999
Liquor Licensing September 1998
Mobile Telecommunications August 1998

 


Date Printed: 02 September 2010

© The Competition Authority 2010