Written Answers - EU Summits.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
170
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Minister for Public Enterprise
if, in respect of commitments made at the Lisbon Summit 2000 concerning economic reform in order to make the European Union the most competitive economic area by 2010, she will list the number of measures that have to be undertaken by her Department; the stage at which these measures are; the title and brief description of each measure; when it is expected to have the measure taken or implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[11759/01]
The information sought by the Deputy is as follows:
Presidency Conclusion – An information society for all
Unbundling of the Local Loop:In December 2000 the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on unbundling of the local loop – Regulation (EC) No. 2887/2000 – was adopted and published, thereby mandating local loop unbundling in all member states from January 2001. In accordance with this regulation, an obligation to provide unbundled access has been imposed upon fixed public telephone network operators who have been designated by the national regulatory authority as having significant market power in the provision of fixed public telephone networks. In the case of Ireland, the obligation falls on Eircom.
The implementation of, and supervision of compliance with, the regulation is a matter for the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation.
EU Regulatory Framework for the Telecommunications Sector:In July 2000 the European Commission adopted a package of proposals for a regulatory framework applicable to electronic communications infrastructure and associated services. The purpose of these proposals is to bring current Union legislation on telecommunications into line with the far-reaching changes that have taken place in the telecommunications, media and information technologies sectors. The convergence of these sectors underlies the approach to be taken by Ireland and other member states over the coming years to bring all transmission networks and associated services together under a single regulatory framework.
The proposed regulatory framework comprises five directives on the harmonisation of legislation and a decision of the Parliament and of the Council on radio spectrum policy in the Union. The package of draft directives consists of a framework directive and directives on authorisation; access and interconnection; universal service and user rights; and data protection.
Political agreement on the first three directives was achieved at ministerial level at the April Council of Ministers in Luxembourg.
The Council working group is examining the first draft of the last two directives with a view to reaching political agreement at the June Council meeting. Transposition is expected to commence in the second half of 2001.
Agreement on the decision on radio spectrum policy is expected before the June Council.
Legal Framework for electronic commerce:
I commenced the Electronic Commerce Act, 2000, by order on 20 September 2000. The purpose of the Act is to facilitate electronic commerce by providing for legal recognition of electronic signatures, electronic writing and electronic contracts on the same basis as conventional written paper forms. The Act, substantially implements the Electronic Signatures Directive 99/93/EC and goes some way towards implementing the Electronic Commerce Directive 2000/31/EC.
Infrastructure:I have, in recent years, put in place a number of initiatives, which seek to address gaps in communications infrastructure in Ireland. Under the National Development Plan 1994-1999, IR£21 million was made available to support the roll-out of telecommunications infrastructure to the regions.
This figure has been significantly increased under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, to IR£147 million. This funding will be utilised to leverage and accelerate investment in competitive advanced telecommunications infrastructure and services in the regions.The first call for proposals under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 closed on 22 September 2000. In January I announced the successful projects that will receive a total of IR£59 million in national development plan aid. My Department is now reviewing future infrastructure investment needs in the light of the results of this first call for proposals.
Presidency Conclusion – Establishing a European Area of Research and Innovation.Work is ongoing to assist the national research network provider to upgrade broadband communication links to academic and research networks in Europe, the US and further afield. This project is expected to be completed by the end of 2001.
Presidency Conclusion – Economic Reforms for a complete and fully operational internal market.
Public Transport Liberalisation:
I published a consultation paper A New Institutional and Regulatory Framework for Public Transport' in September, 2000. This paper included a proposal to introduce liberalisation to the public transport sector by increasing private sector involvement in the provision of public transport.
The Public Transport Partnership Forum is currently considering the proposals in the consultation paper. I will finalise my proposals when the Forum have responded to the consultation.
Electricity Liberalisation:
Ireland has exceeded the requirements of the EU Electricity Directive, which required 28% market opening in February 2000, increasing to 33% by 2003. Under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, 31% of the electricity market is currently open in Ireland. This will be increased to 40% in 2002 by means of a Ministerial Order under the Act. Full market opening in 2005 has already been provided for in the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations, which I signed in December 2000.
In addition, the "green" electricity market has been fully liberalised since February 2000 and more recently, I have introduced amending legislation to provide for full liberalisation of the CHP market.
Gas Liberalisation:
The European Council has asked member states to speed up the process of liberalisation. I am happy to report that in Ireland, the level of gas market opening at 75% is far in excess of the 28% level required under the EU gas directive. Legislation is being prepared to extend the level to almost 85% increasing, from eight to 100, the number of customers entitled to third party access to the Bord Gáis Éireann network. My aim is to have the legislation enacted before the summer recess. Full gas market opening is scheduled for 2005.
Postal Liberalisation:In May 2000, the European Commission circulated new proposals for the further liberalisation of the postal market for consideration by the member states These include proposals to reduce the maximum tariff and weight parameters of the reserved area within which the universal service provider in each member state, An Post in the case of Ireland, has exclusive rights.
At the Council meeting on 22 December last, I spoke in favour of a staged approach to liberalisation consistent with the position put forward by the European Parliament.
At the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg on 4 April 2001, the Swedish Presidency announced that it would be seeking an agreement at the next Council due to be held in June on the next phase of liberalisation of the postal services market. To this end, the Presidency announced that it will be working to develop a compromise text which it hopes could form the basis of an agreement.
Use and management of airspace:
The Department is awaiting the formal proposals from the Commission in relation to the implementation of the high level group report on the creation of a Single European Sky.
Presidency Conclusion – More and better jobs for Europe: developing an active employment policy. Education and training:
The Department is committed to the training and development of its staff. There has been a sustained investment in the Department over the past five years in the development and training of its staff. The 3% of payroll target, set in Delivering Better Government, has been achieved and raised to 5%. The focus of the Department's training effort has been to lay foundations for change and to that end, training has concentrated on the development of individual staff members, in groups of their peers. Significant resources have also been invested in the third level fee refunds scheme.
Increasing employment in services:
The Department facilitates work placements for third level students. The Department is committed to developing family friendly working policies to make it easier for employees to reconcile working life and family life. These policies include amongst others flexi time, term time, parental leave and other special leave schemes.
Presidency Conclusion – Promoting Social InclusionThe community application of information technology initiative seeks to fund demonstration projects, which encourage and assist those in our society who are unfamiliar with, and who do not use, the new information and communications technologies in their everyday lives. It is intended that the community and voluntary sector will undertake these projects. Over £2.5 million has been provided for this purpose from the Information Society Fund over the period June 2001 to December 2002.
In excess of 450 proposals were received before the deadline, which expired on 15 February last. An independent steering group comprising representatives of the Department of Public Enterprise, other Departments and the private sector, is overseeing the selection process and will make the final recommendations for funding. It is expected that the results of the project selection process will be posted to the voluntary groups involved in late May 2001.
