Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The national digital strategy was launched in February 2022. It restates the Government’s commitment to making Ireland a well-resourced, modern and coherent regulatory framework for digital technology. Advances have been made across many fronts in this regard. We are committing the resources needed by our regulators to operate successfully. For instance, the Government has approved an allocation of €2.7 million to my Department for 2023 to fund Coimisiún na Meán in its lead role for implementing the EU’s Digital Services Act in Ireland. This funding has allowed recruitment to be progressed for a commissioner for digital services and for other staff so that Coimisiún na Meán has the resources available to undertake preparatory work and ensure that Ireland is fully equipped for the implementation and enforcement of the Digital Services Act by 17 February 2024, when it comes into full effect. My Department is now working to identify what resources will be needed for Coimisiún na Meán after 17 February 2024 when the Digital Services Act's full enforcement network is up and running.

I am mindful, however, that we need to avoid duplication of activity across regulators. On that basis, I am looking at assigning some functions under the Digital Services Act to regulators whose expertise can be leveraged to implement specific elements of the Act. Key to implementation of a coherent regulatory framework in Ireland has been the establishment of cross-government co-ordination structures, such as the senior officials group on digital issues, which reports to the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment. My Department has a central role on that group. There is also regular engagement between that senior officials group and the four main digital regulators, who are represented as the digital regulators' group.

Across Government, we continue to strongly advocate for, and seek to defend, the country-of-origin principle across digital files in our negotiations in the EU, so as to ensure regulatory certainty for business. Furthermore, as an EU member, we engage with international regulatory dialogues such as the EU-US Trade and Technology Council.

It is imperative that we continue to demonstrate Ireland’s commitment and ability to be effective digital regulators. As further EU digital regulations come into effect, we will continue to ensure that our regulators are equipped with the skills and staff needed to deliver on their specific functions and co-ordination activities to ensure a coherent digital regulatory framework is available for businesses. In so doing, we will build Ireland’s reputation as an effective digital regulator and secure our future position as a hub for EU technology regulation.

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