Vol. 577 No. 4
74 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he intends to appoint a new chairperson of the Commission for Communications Regulation; if he is planning new legislation to strengthen the powers of ComReg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31270/03]
On 27 November 2003, I appointed Mr. John Doherty as the new chairperson of the Commission for Communications Regulation with effect from 1 December. This year I transposed five EU directives on electronic communications, networks and services into Irish law. This has significantly increased the powers of the Commission for Communications Regulation in several important areas.
Following the transposition of the EU regulatory package, a new authorisation regime replaced the existing licensing regime. As a result the indictable offences provided for in the Communications Regulation Act 2002 became redundant. In 2004, I will be enacting legislation which will re-instate indictable offences provided for in the Communications Regulation Act 2002. This will strengthen the enforcement efforts of ComReg in the new regulatory regime.
Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 48.
