Jan O'Sullivan
Question:55 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will transpose the provisions of Directive 98/10/EC into Irish law by statutory instrument; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22669/98]
Written Answers. - EU Directives.
My Department is now finalising the drafting of the Statutory Instrument necessary for the transposition of Directive 98-10-EC into Irish law and I fully expect that this will be completed in early December 1998.
The directive, which concerns the application of the Open Network Provision, ONP, to voice telephony and the issue of universal service for telecommunications in a competitive environment, was due to be transposed into national law by 30 June 1998. The delay in completing this task is due to the number of complex issues addressed by the directive and the need to ensure that these are resolved in a way that is consistent with our policy in relation to the development of the telecommunications sector.
The late transposition of this directive will not affect the proposed full liberalisation of the sector on 1 December 1998.