Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans that have been agreed to transpose the third directive on postal liberalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21501/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Third Postal Directive, EC/2008/6, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union earlier this year and was reviewed by officials in my Department with a view to establishing the key issues arising from it for Ireland. Whilst the Directive sets the date for the final liberalisation of the postal sector and stipulates that there should be no changes to the Universal Service Obligation, certain other key decisions with regard to the liberalisation of the sector are being left to individual Member States.

In this regard, my Department launched an online public consultation process on 29th April, inviting the public to submit its views on the key issues and the key decisions to be made arising from the Directive.

Of importance for Ireland is how to facilitate competition and the provision of high-quality, competitively-priced postal services whilst ensuring the protection of universal service in a liberalised market so that all postal consumers will have access to a basic, high quality suite of services.

The consultation invites submissions from interested parties on key issues such as financing the Universal Service Obligation in a liberalised market, the regulatory regime to be put in place with respect to price and quality of service, issues relating to access to An Post's network and matters relating to the promotion of competition. The deadline for receipt of submissions is 9th July.

The results of this process will assist my thinking with respect to the transposition of the Directive into Irish law, including any possible consolidation of existing postal legislation, which is currently under consideration. The deadline for transposition of the Directive is 31 December 2010.