Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
156. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider giving the Commission for Communications Regulation additional power to enforce solutions from broadband providers for their customers; his views on whether the current powers are too limited given the increased importance of remote working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24220/21]
View answerI recognise how vital telecommunications services are to citizens for so many aspects of their daily lives, including remote working, studying and staying in touch with family members during the Covid-19 pandemic. The availability of reliable high speed broadband is of particular importance and the Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure that every premises in Ireland will have access to a high speed broadband service. ComReg currently has a suite of enforcement and sanction powers available to it in regulating the telecommunications sector. Transposition of the European Electronic Communications Code, a new European regulatory framework will, inter alia, further ensure effective consumer protection and includes enforcement measures which should in turn further enhance competition and innovation. Against the backdrop of the transposition of the Code, my Department, in collaboration with ComReg, is developing proposals to further strengthen ComReg's enforcement regime, as committed to in the Programme for Government, with a view to developing draft legislative proposals.
