Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 218: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the electronic communications (miscellaneous provisions) Bill; if a limited consultation process is under way on this Bill; the form the consultation process is taking; the measures he proposes to introduce to reform the regulation of the telecommunications sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2131/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As part of a regulatory impact analysis of the proposals to be included in the draft electronic communications (miscellaneous provisions) Bill, a public consultation was initiated on 6 January, with three weeks allowed for submission of comments. In addition to making the draft proposals and draft regulatory impact statement available to the public on my Department's website at www.dcmnr.ie, all Departments have been consulted, along with key stakeholders, including the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg; the Director of Consumer Affairs; the Competition Authority; the Data Protection Commissioner; IBEC; the Irish Cellular Industry Association, ICIA; and ALTO, the alternative operators.

There are four distinct proposals in the draft electronic communications (miscellaneous provisions) Bill and these include: enforcement of regulatory obligations; powers for ComReg to investigate over-charging; regulation of ".ie" domain name; and emergency call handling service. Further details are available on my Department's website at www.dcmnr.ie.