30th October 2026
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has appointed a new member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), Ms Clara Thornton with effect from 2 November 2026, further strengthening its senior management team.
Ms Thornton is a senior regulatory executive and qualified solicitor with more than 16 years’ experience spanning competition, consumer protection, product safety and digital regulation. Having held senior leadership and advisory positions in both the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and private sector, she has led complex regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, compliance programmes and legislative initiatives in Ireland and across Europe.
Including the Chairman, Ms Thornton’s appointment now brings the Commission membership to four. Clara joins Chairman Brian McHugh and fellow Commission Members Úna Butler and Geoffrey Gray. Her appointment will further strengthen and support the strategic delivery of the CCPC’s important mandate of promoting and protecting competition and consumer rights.
Welcoming the appointment, Minister Burke said:
“I’m pleased to appoint Clara Thornton to the CCPC. Her extensive expertise inregulatory enforcement, consumer protection and strategic engagement with policymakers and regulators provides valuable support to the Commission's mission of promoting competition and protecting consumers. The CCPC’s role in promoting compliance with and enforcing competition, consumer protection and product safety law continues to broaden, and Clara’s expertise and experience will be of immense value to the Commission in the fulfilment of its functions and responsibilities”.
Notes for editors
About the CCPC
The CCPC is the statutory body responsible for enforcing and promoting compliance with competition, consumer protection and product safety law, with important and expanding roles in relation to digital markets and data regulation. Our aim is to make markets work better, and encourage businesses to compete for consumers on price, quality and innovation. Visit www.ccpc.ie.
ENDS
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