Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of regulators under the control of his Department; the function and responsibility of same; the number of staff employed, their out-turn for 2008 and budget for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6494/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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There are three regulators operating under the aegis of my Department and their details are as follows:

Broadcasting Commission of Ireland:

Staff: 36

2008 Outturn: €5m

2009 Budget: €4.738m

Functions and responsibility:

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) is responsible for a number of key areas of activity with regard to television and radio services in Ireland, further to the provisions of the Radio and Television Act, 1988, the Broadcasting Act, 2001, the Broadcasting (Funding) Act, 2003 and the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007.

These include:

The licensing of independent broadcasting services including the additional licensing of television services on digital, cable, MMDS and satellite systems and for licensing DTT multiplex operators;

The development of codes and rules in relation to programming and advertising standards;

The monitoring of all licensed services to ensure that license holders comply with their statutory obligations and terms of their contracts.

The development and administration of funding scheme(s) to support new television and radio programmes. The current scheme is known as the Broadcasting Funding Scheme.

Commission for Energy Regulation (CER):

Staff 71

2008 Outturn Not applicable

2009 Budget Not applicable

The CER does not receive any Exchequer funding and I have no function in setting its budget. Income and expenditure details are published in their annual reports.

Functions and responsibility:

The CER was established under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as the independent body responsible for regulating and overseeing the liberalisation of Ireland's electricity sector. Under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002, the CER's jurisdiction was expanded to include both gas and electricity.

The role and functions of the CER have continued to evolve and expand in line with EU and national requirements. The delivery of the all-island Energy Framework is now a key task for the CER, in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation. The CER's key functions include the following:

Promote competition in the generation and supply of electricity and in the supply of natural gas;

Make determination in relation to ESB's electricity tariffs and BGÉ's natural gas tariffs for the regulated sectors;

Ensure that all reasonable demands by final customers of electricity for electricity are satisfied;

Ensure that there is sufficient capacity in the natural gas system to enable reasonable expectations of demand to be met;

Promote the continuity, security and quality of supplies of electricity;

Secure the continuity, security and quality of supplies of natural gas;

Promote safety and efficiency on the part of electricity and natural gas undertakings;

Secure that licence holders are capable of financing the undertaking of the activities which they are licensed to undertake; and

Promote the use of renewable, sustainable or alternative forms of energy.

Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg):

Staff: 120

2008 Outturn: Not applicable

2009 Budget: Not applicable

ComReg does not receive Exchequer funding and I have no function in setting its budget. Income and expenditure details are published in its annual reports. Functions and responsibility: ComReg is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of electronic communications networks and services, the postal sector and spectrum management. ComReg's functions, in accordance with Section 10 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended, include:

To ensure compliance with obligations;

To promote competition;

To contribute to the development of the internal market;

To promote the interests of users within the European Community;

To ensure efficient management and use of the radio frequency spectrum and numbers from the national numbering scheme;

To promote the development of the postal sector and in particular the availability of a universal service within, to and from the State at an affordable price for the benefit of all users, including disabled users.