I propose to answer Questions Nos. 74, 75, 76, 77 and 80 together.
The arrangements for the appointment of staff, in the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation are matters for the director to determine in accordance with the provisions of section 12(b) of the first schedule to the Telecommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1996.
Since the establishment of the office, my Department, together with the management of the ODTR and the staff associations and unions concerned, have been involved in ongoing discussions regarding the staffing arrangements for the ODTR. I am aware that some of the 20 or so members of the engineering staff of my Department who are working in the ODTR since 1997, and who are engaged on functions formerly the responsibility of my Department, have raised concerns about their status within the ODTR. I want to assure all civil servants working in the office that they enjoy the same terms and conditions of employment as they did prior to the ODTR's establishment and that no changes to those terms and conditions can come about unless agreed either individually or collectively. These commitments will be enshrined in legislation in the forthcoming Telecommunications Regulatory Bill. The question of making staff redundant does not, therefore, arise.
The status of the position of deputy director is that the director has designated a current member of staff to act as deputy director. As provided in section 15 of the First Schedule to the Act, this arises only to cover periods of unavailability by the director.