Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Along with a number of other Member States Ireland received a reasoned opinion in relation to the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) (EAA) in July of 2023, even as focused efforts were underway in my Department to transpose this complex and broad Directive. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Ireland has since transposed the EAA into Irish Law via Statutory Instrument S.I 636/2023 on 12^th December 2023 and that Ireland has notified the Commission of same.

The Commission will now be assessing the Irish transposition instrument for accuracy and completeness and I await the outcome of that assessment.

The EAA is an important EU Directive that will introduce mandatory minimum accessibility requirements for certain products and services across the European Union.

In line with the government's mainstream first approach to disability matters - which itself flows from the ethos of the UNCRPD - under the transposing Regulations six agencies have been assigned oversight and enforcement functions for products and services based on pre-existing regulatory responsibilities.

These agencies are as follows: the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; the Commission for Communications Regulation; the National Transport Authority; the Irish Aviation Authority; the Central Bank of Ireland, and Coimisiún na Meán. The National Disability Authority will support the six agencies in carrying out their functions through the provision of advice and expertise on accessibility issues.

Ireland is currently preparing for material implementation of the Directive by 28 June 2025. My Department will be working closely with colleagues across government to ensure effective implementation of this important Directive by the implementation deadline.