Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Feb 1992

Vol. 416 No. 2

Written Answers. - EC Telecommunications Directive.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

16 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the action she has taken on foot of the EC Directive of 27 May 1988, governing free competition in telecommunications; and if Ireland complies in every respect with this directive.

Gerry Reynolds

Question:

32 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the action she has taken on foot of the EC Directive of 27 May 1988, governing free competition in telecommunications; and if Ireland complies in every respect with this directive.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

34 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the action she has taken on foot of the EC Directive of 27 May 1988 governing free competition in telecommunications; and if Ireland complies in every respect with this directive.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

40 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the action she has taken on foot of the EC Directive of 27 May 1988, governing free competition in telecommunications; and if Ireland complies in every respect with this directive.

Edward Nealon

Question:

43 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the action she has taken on foot of the EC Directive of 27 May 1988, governing free competition in telecommunications; and if Ireland complies in every respect with this directive.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

45 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the action she has taken on foot of the EC Directive of 27 May 1988, governing free competition in telecommunications; and if Ireland complies in every respect with this directive.

Paul McGrath

Question:

57 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the action she has taken on foot of the EC Directive of 27 May 1988 governing free competition in telecommunications; and if Ireland complies in every respect with this directive.

Fergus O'Brien

Question:

59 Mr. O'Brien asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the action she has taken on foot of the EC Directive of 27 May 1988, governing free competition in telecommunications; and if Ireland complies in every respect with this directive.

Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 32, 34, 40, 43, 45, 57 and 59 together.

There is no EC Directive of 27 May 1988 governing free competition in telecommunications. I presume that the Deputies' questions refer to Directive No. 88/301/EEC of 16 May 1988, on competition in the markets for telecommunications terminal equipment.

This Directive is aimed at liberalisation of the market in telecommunications terminal equipment intended for connection to the public telecommunications network.

Even prior to adoption of this Directive this market had been virtually fully liberalised in this country subject to equipment suppliers being licensed under the relevant legislation i.e. the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983. At the time of the adoption of this Directive the only category of terminal equipment remaining to be liberalised was telephone sets.

Liberalisation of this market was introduced with effect from 1 July 1990, whereupon Ireland became fully compliant with the Directive.