New figures show that merger notifications increased by 32pc between 2023 and 2025, pointing to a much busier period for dealmaking across the Irish economy.
According to the Annual Mergers and Acquisitions Report 2025 from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), a total of 90 mergers were notified in 2025, compared with 82 notifications in 2024 and 68 in 2023.
News in 90 Seconds – January 12 2026
The commission also issued 91 merger decisions during the year, including cases carried over from the previous year.
Around two-thirds of mergers reviewed in 2025 were handled under a simplified process. These cases were cleared in an average of 12.5 working days, slightly faster than in 2024. Other cases were decided in an average of 17 working days.
A merger notification is a formal notice that companies must submit to the CCPC when they plan to merge with, or buy another business and the deal meets certain size and turnover thresholds.
The notification allows the watchdog to examine whether a deal could reduce competition, lead to higher prices, or limit choice for consumers before it goes ahead.
The report also highlights changes inside the CCPC itself. In 2025 the commission restructured its competition review process by creating a standalone mergers division alongside a separate antitrust division.
Alan Scarlett was appointed director of mergers in July. The CCPC said the move was designed to give greater focus and senior oversight to merger reviews as transactions become more complex.
While most mergers were approved without issues, the CCPC intervened in a small number of cases.
In 2025, it secured formal commitments from companies involved in five mergers where competition concerns were identified.
These cases were in sectors including telecommunications, fuel retail, hospitality, waste management and wholesale grocery supply, it said.
Media ownership was a growing area of activity, with eight media mergers notified in 2025 compared with three the previous year. Six of these were cleared while two were carried over into 2026.
“One key element of a merger review regime is the need to ensure efficiency,” said Úna Butler, a member of the commission.
“In 2025 the CCPC established a standalone mergers division, ensuring senior resourcing and a sharper focus on merger review. The creation of this new division will support the delivery of a sustainable and effective merger review regime into the future.”
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