Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I move amendment No. 110:

In page 130, to delete lines 4 and 5 and substitute the following:

" "Acts of 1926 to 2009" means Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1926 to 2009;".

These amendments relate to the wireless telegraphy elements of the Bill, and can be divided into subgroups. The first subgroup is amendments Nos. 110, 116 to 122, inclusive, and 150. Amendment No. 150 is advised by the Parliamentary Counsel and creates two collective citations which allow for the referencing both in the Bill and in future legislation, in a single phrase, of "wireless telegraphy legislation" and "broadcasting offences [illegal broadcasting] legislation". Amendments 110 and 116 to 122, inclusive, apply that collective referencing throughout the Bill.

Amendment No. 152 is intended to facilitate a joint request from ComReg and the Department of Transport to amend section 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926, as amended by the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007, to clarify the respective roles of ComReg and the Minister for Transport with regard to the regulation of shore-based wireless telegraphy apparatus associated with marine safety. The amendment clarifies that any shore-based apparatus is to be licensed by ComReg.

Another subgroup comprises amendments Nos. 153, 157, 159, 160 and 163. Amendments Nos. 153, 157 and 163 derive from a request from ComReg to amend section 8 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 in respect of the legal position of the return of apparatus for wireless telegraphy seized by ComReg in the course of its duties. In addressing this request the Parliamentary Counsel has advised, from a statute law revision perspective, the restatement of sections 7 and 8 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926. Amendments 159 and 160 propose the repeal of section 9(3) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1972 and section 17 of the Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act 1988, which are no longer required as a consequence of the review, and restatement of sections 7 and 8 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926 as proposed in amendment No. 163.

The final subgroup comprises amendments No. 151, 154 to 156, inclusive, 161, 162 and 164 to 166, inclusive. Amendments Nos. 154 to 156, inclusive, 161, 162 and 164 to 166, inclusive, correct errors and omissions in the text of section 180 and Schedule 2. Amendments Nos. 151 and 153 excise unnecessary and duplicate text in sections 180.

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