Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the nature and extent or any policy directions he has issued to ComReg, CER or other regulatory or monitoring bodies under his aegis; the likely impact of any such direction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28062/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the nature and extent or any policy directions he has issued to ComReg, CER or other regulatory or monitoring bodies under his aegis; the likely impact of any such direction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28117/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 245 together.

Since I took up office as Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, no policy directions have been issued to either ComReg or the Commission for Energy Regulation.

Under section 13 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, policy directions may be issued to ComReg, as the Minister may consider appropriate, in the interest of proper and effective regulation of those markets. My predecessor issued a set of policy directions to ComReg in February 2003 covering flat rate Internet charges, broadband electronic communication networks, industry sustainability, regulation only where necessary, regulatory impact assessment, consistency with other member states, cost of regulation, consistency across platforms, regulation of prices, management of the radio frequency spectrum, and universal postal service. A further set of policy directions was issued by my predecessor in March 2004 on communications issues. These included a general direction on competition and directions on broadband; wholesale and retail telephone line rental; interconnection/leased lines; and national and cross border roaming.

A policy direction to the Commission for Energy Regulation was given on July 26 1999, in accordance with section 9 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, providing for a system of contracts and other arrangements for trading electricity. The main objective was promotion of efficient competition amongst licensed generators and suppliers. The interim arrangements established on foot of this direction will be replaced by new arrangements implemented as part of the single all-island electricity market which is due to go live in July 2007. The single all-island electricity market will establish for the first time, a single wholesale market in which generators and suppliers of electricity on the island will trade all their electricity on a daily basis regardless of their location on the island. A key objective is to minimise the cost of electricity to all customers on the island of Ireland.

Since I assumed office as Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I have issued two policy directions to the registrar general of fishing boats, the licensing authority on sea fishing boat licensing policy. Both concern the provision of replacement capacity in the context of the replacement or modification of certain fishing vessels. The directions extended the time to 30 June 2006 in which all replacement capacity was to be provided.