Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2012
235. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on progress made in ensuring that the mobile phone industry supplies chargers common to all mobile phone devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41571/12]
View answerI understand that in 2009 the European Commission obtained the agreement of Europe’s major mobile phone manufacturers to adopt, on a voluntary basis, a universal charger for data-enabled mobile phones sold in the EU. Subsequently, the European Standardisation Bodies, CEN-CENELEC and ETSI, following a mandate from the EU Commission, developed harmonised standards for the manufacture of data-enabled mobile phones compatible with a new common charger. This voluntary European standard (EN 62684) was published in December 2010 and was subsequently adopted as an Irish Standard, I.S. EN 62684, in March 2011. The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) contributed to the development of these standards through its representation at the European Standardisation Bodies and as the national standards body. It is important to highlight that these are voluntary standards and the NSAI has no role in monitoring or enforcing them.
I further understand that this sector is regulated the Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Directive 1999/5/EC of 9 March 1999 which was transposed into national legislation by the European Communities (Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 240 of 2001). This legislation falls under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and is enforced in Ireland by the Commission of Communications Regulation (ComReg). The broad aim of the legislation is to ensure safety and free movement of radio and telecommunications equipment throughout the EU.
