The Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, has been asked to assess whether the proposed takeover of the pharmacy chain Unicare by the German group Gehe should be referred to the Competition Authority.
A Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment spokesman confirmed the sale, which will give Gehe almost 40 outlets throughout the State. The deal is believed to be worth more than £100 million (€127 million) although the spokesman was unable to confirm this.
Gehe is a major European operator, with retail outlets in six states, very deep pockets and a large expansion strategy. At the end of last year its pharmacies employed more than 8,600 people in 1,403 outlets.
It recorded revenues of €4 billion (£3.15 billion) and a pre-tax profit of €62 million in the first quarter this year. The company's pre-tax profit in the retail pharmacy sector was €8.6 million in the first quarter, with the 31.2 per cent rise boosted by acquisitions.
Gehe has already acquired pharmacies in Norway, the Netherlands and Italy this year. It also operates in Britain and the Czech Republic.
The group entered the Irish retail pharmacy market last May when it acquired nine outlets owned by Crowley's Pharmacies. The company's chief executive, Dr Fritz Oesterle, said then that the acquisition was "only our first step into the Irish market".
In the Republic, Gehe also owns the Cahill May Roberts wholesale pharmacy group, which has three outlets.
Ms Harney has one month to consider such deals, once notified, although that deadline can be extended for another month if supplementary information is required.
