Written answers

Wednesday, 16 November 2005

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Proposed Legislation

9:00 pm

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the stage his Department's work is at regarding the Electronic Communications Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34350/05]

Photo of Noel DempseyNoel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Draft legislative proposals for an Electronic Communications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill are currently under preparation in my Department to enhance the enforcement powers of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in a number of areas. This Bill is a priority for me in the communications area and the enforcement powers are key.

The Bill will mainly provide that non-compliance with obligations under the regulatory package transposed in 2003 will be rendered subject to summary or indictable penalties as appropriate and will accordingly increase ComReg's enforcement powers in this and other respects. It is envisaged that this legislation, with both civil and criminal remedies, will give ComReg the necessary muscle to enforce regulatory decisions to support the development of competition in the telecoms market.

Other elements of the Bill include, inter alia, provisions to specifically address ComReg's power to effectively intervene in an instance of suspected overcharging by an authorised operator and provisions relating to the oversight of the Irish domain registry, more commonly known as the IEDR. I hope to bring these legislative proposals to Government shortly.

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