I intend to make commencement orders for sections 4 to 8, 11, 16 and 23 of the Road Transport Act, 1999, before the end of the year which will allow sufficient time for my Department to introduce a new vehicle plating system. Amending regulations will also have to be introduced to repeal certain sections of the Road Transport Acts, 1933-1986. Draft regulations are at an advanced stage.
Commencement orders for the following provisions of the Postal and Telecommunications Services (Amendment) Act, 1999, have not been made: (i) section 19(3), 22 and 24 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983. The above provisions cannot be repealed until the State has fully divested itself of its shares in Eircom; (ii) sections 28 and 30 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983. The above provisions cannot be repealed until Eircom's State-guaranteed loans, which extend up to 2003, have been cleared; (iii) Sections 46(9) and (11) of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983. These provisions must remain until the obligations of the Minister for Finance to Eircom's superannuation fund have been cleared.
