Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
42. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the preparations being undertaken by his Department in advance of the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882); the guidance that is being issued by his Department to organisations and businesses in advance of the enactment of the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39666/23]
View answerMy colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is leading on the transposition of the European Accessibility Act.
My Department has engaged extensively and continues to engage with his department on this process – both at a bilateral level and in discussions led by that department across relevant departments and agencies - in relation to the obligations arising for providers of electronic communications services, and in relation to emergency communications to the European emergency number 112.
This includes engagement with the communications regulator, ComReg, in relation to oversight of relevant obligations set out in the Directive. Connectivity is important to a full and meaningful participation in society and ComReg is well placed to ensure the rights of consumers in this regard.
I look forward to further engagement as appropriate in respect of transposition and the effective implementation of this initiative with the support of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the National Disability Authority.
