Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport

General Scheme of the Communications Regulation (Enforcement) Bill: Discussion

Mr. Eamonn Confrey:

As late as earlier this week, we have been in intensive engagement with the Office of the Attorney General. It is drafting at speed the provisions which, as I said, are aligned very closely with the competition (amendment) Bill, which is slightly ahead of us. As I said, it is a priority for the Attorney General and it is certainly a priority for the Government.

With regard to the infringement proceedings, we are technically in infringement at the moment because that commenced with a formal notice in February 2021. The reasoned opinion came in on 23 September and, as I said, we issued that response yesterday. The reasoned opinion is the final pre-litigation stage in an infringement process, so, essentially, the clock is ticking for us in the sense that the Commission may commence that litigation phase now.

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