A CRH subsidiary is facing a Swiss Competition Commission investigation into the possibility that it was involved in fixing the price of materials supplied to a major building project.

The commission announced yesterday that it planned to investigate the dealings of Swiss CRH subsidiary, Jura Holding, and local company, Holcim, which both supplied cement and concrete to the 57 km Alptransit rail tunnel project in Switzerland.

The watchdog said it was investigating whether the companies fixed the price of the materials when they made their original bids to supply the project.

Both companies were the subject of an earlier investigation which found no evidence that either was engaged in any wrongdoing.

The Competition Commission said that it would scrutinise the bidding process more closely in the course of this inquiry.

CRH did not comment on yesterday's announcement. However, it is understood that the company does not believe it will have a case to answer.

Along with a range of other EU companies, the European Commission fined CRH and industry association, Cembureau, for price fixing in 1994.

Two years later, the UK authorities fined it, the Quinn Group and three others for similar activities.

It took over Jura four years ago.