I wish to advise the Deputy that there are 3 Regulators, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) and Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which come under the aegis of my Department. All of the regulators have been established on a statutory basis and are independent in the exercise of their respective functions, including functions that are necessary to ensure compliance with EU directives. The 3 Regulators are required to submit their annual accounts to my Department, after they have been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, for laying before each House of the Oireachtas. The accounts for previous years, which are published on the Regulators’ websites, www.bai.ie, www.comreg.ie and www.cer.ie, set out details of income and operating costs including accommodation costs and average numbers of staff employed in the period of the accounts.
The accounts for the Regulators for 2012 have not yet been received by my Department in a final form for transmission to the Oireachtas and to the wider public. The staff and functions of Regtel, the previous regulator of premium rate telephone services, were incorporated into ComReg in the previous financial year. No decision has been made to amalgamate ComReg, BAI or CER with any other entity. ComReg is in consultations with the BAI to identify opportunities for mutually beneficial costs saving opportunities.
