Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

54. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of engagements he and or his officials have had with ComReg and the EU Commission in respect of the extent to which his Department and National Broadband Ireland is intervening in the intervention area in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [5359/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Broadband Plan was subject to an EU State Aid decision. Over the period of the NBP procurement process, I am informed that there was regular dialogue involving my Department and DG Competition, culminating in the submission in late 2019 of a formal State Aid notification by Ireland and of the formal approval by the EU Commission. In 2020, I understand that DG Competition wrote to my Department on two occasions with regard to communications the Commission had received from operators regarding the NBP mapping process and in response, my Department submitted detailed information to DG Competition on two occasions. My Department also engages on an regular basis with the Broadband Competence Offices Network established by DG Connect with respect to the rollout of high speed broadband in general, including with respect to the NBP. As regards interaction with COMREG on NBP related matters, there was an Expert Group established between the Department and ComReg for the duration of the NBP project up to the conclusion of the procurement process, to address matters related to the NBP strategy and procurement, relevant to ComReg, as and when they arose. The NBP is also a standing item on the regular update meetings involving my Department and the ComReg Commissioners.