Written Answers Nos. 489-506
489. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of environmental impact assessments that were carried out on the planting of forestry, by county, in each of the years 2013 to 2017. [5891/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EIA Directive (meaning Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014) requires that certain types of development, including afforestation and forest road works, must be assessed to determine the likely environmental effect of the development, before a licence can be granted.
The licensing system operated by my Department, as set out in the Forestry Regulations 2017, (SI 191/2017), (“the Regulations”), provides for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be carried out in certain cases. An EIA is mandatory for initial afforestation involving an area of 50 hectares or more, and for forest road works involving a length of 2,000 metres or more. Applications for such projects must be accompanied by an environmental impact statement (EIS), to enable my Department to undertake the EIA. An EIS is an environmental impact assessment report satisfying the requirements of Article 5.1 of the EU Directive and prepared by competent experts. The information to be contained in an EIS is set out in Schedule 4 of the Regulations.
In addition, the Forestry Regulations 2017 provide that all proposed afforestation and forest road works below the above mandatory thresholds must be screened for EIA, to consider whether or not significant effects on the environment are likely. This consideration must take into account criteria involving the characteristic of the project, its location, and the type and characteristics of the potential impact, as set out in Schedule 3 of the Regulations. Where it is considered that a proposed sub-threshold development is likely to have significant effects on the environment and should therefore be subject to an EIA, my Department requires the applicant to submit an EIS to enable the EIA to be undertaken.
EIA screening is an assessment undertaken by my Department as part of the normal procedure for evaluating the silvicultural and environmental suitability of a proposed development. The District Forestry Inspector undertakes EIA screening by responding to questions under the various headings: project description; existing land use; cumulative effect and extent of the project; water; soil; protection of Freshwater Pearl Mussel; archaeology; landscape; designated habitats; non-designated habitats; social; accidents; trans-frontier; public participation and NGO participation. This is supported by spatial analysis concerning the area of forest within various hinterlands of the proposed development. In undertaking the EIA screening, the Inspector uses information gained from their scrutiny of aerial photographs of the site and various Geographic Information System (GIS) layers available in the IFORIS mapping system, combined with their knowledge gained through (inter alia) the scrutiny of other third party datasets, through field inspection, and through a review of referral responses (if any) received from consulted bodies, and submissions from third parties.
My Department has various options to address individual environmental concerns that arise in relation to a proposed forest development. For example, specific conditions, such as increased setbacks or exclusions, can be added to the licence, to avoid any impact. My Department may seek further information in the form of an expert report in relation to, e.g. archaeology; potential Annex 1 habitats; concerns regarding groundwater; and address any potential impacts identified thorough licence conditions. Furthermore, my Department has incorporated several protocols into the assessment process, designed to avoid impact concerning particular sensitivities, e.g. surface water acidification; Hen Harrier; Curlew; Freshwater Pearl Mussel; and Small White Orchid.
Therefore, while the EIA screening process may identify potential environmental impacts, these can often be addressed in an individual basis and do not culminate in a significant environment impact, which would otherwise trigger an EIA. No environmental impact assessments were carried out in relation to afforestation in the years 2013 to 2017.
490. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5915/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017.
Validation checks must be passed on all actions on GLAS claims and all cases must clear these checks before payment can issue. My Department is working proactively to complete these checks on all claims to allow for the issue of payments. Once this case clears validations the 2017 advance payment will be made. GLAS payments are issuing on a weekly basis.
491. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to protect and further the interests of the beef industry in CAP negotiations, particularly those relating to the suckler cow herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5938/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am keenly aware of the importance of the suckler sector to Ireland's rural economy and the wider agrifood industry. The suckler sector is a vital component of Ireland’s rural economy and the provision of support for the suckler sector is critically important.
The range of CAP supports currently provided by my Department represent a balance between direct income support (Basic Payment Scheme, Areas of Natural Constraint, Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme and investment support through TAMS) for the sector and rural development measures (Beef Data and Genomics Programme and Knowledge Transfer) designed to improve its competitiveness and sustainability.
In terms of a future CAP, the European Commission published its CAP Communication titled “The Future of Food and Farming” on 29 November 2017. The Communication proposes a simpler CAP, with a sharper focus on objectives and results, particularly in the environmental area. I welcome the commitment that Direct Payments should remain an essential part of CAP, as they provide an important safety net for family farms and ensure there is agricultural activity in all parts of the EU.
My Department is currently reviewing the Communication and has commenced a public consultation on CAP which runs from 26 January to 23 March 2018. As part of the consultation, I will, along with Minister of State Doyle, host and attend six public meetings throughout the country during February. It is important that all stakeholders with an interest in the CAP attend and make a submission before 23 March 2018.
492. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures which can be taken to stifle the importation of Brazilian beef in view of its questionable sources and harm to the beef industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5939/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recent issues with Brazilian beef exports to the EU have been worrying. However, I would point out that the Commission was quick to react as soon as the practices uncovered in Brazil came to light. Its actions in seeking immediate suspension of certification for the establishments responsible, together with the rejection of consignments en route to the EU from those establishments, were appropriate and effective. I have also welcomed the harmonised approach subsequently taken to the more intensified checks carried out on product from Brazil at EU Border Inspection Posts, and in which Ireland has played a full part.
It is vitally important that meat and meat products being exported from any country to the EU fully comply with EU standards, and that there are robust and reliable systems in place to ensure that this is the case. We cannot tolerate a situation in which EU requirements are flouted, given the potential risks for food safety and consumer health.
These events demonstrate that we must remain vigilant at all times. I believe that we must therefore continue to keep this situation under ongoing review, and be ready to take additional measures if the circumstances demand it.
More generally on the question of the volume of beef imports to the EU from Mercosur and the current state of play in the EU-Mercosur trade negotiations, I think Ireland's position is well-known, in that we oppose any agreement that would have negative consequences for the Irish and EU agriculture sectors, and for the beef sector in particular. It has been reiterated many times, by myself at Council of Agriculture Ministers meetings and through direct contacts with Commissioners Hogan and Malmstroem, by other Ministers in the relevant EU Trade policy fora, and by the Taoiseach at European Council and through his own direct contacts, most recently with Commission President Jean Claude Juncker and French President Emmanuel Macron. Indeed my colleague, Minister of State Andrew Doyle, made a very strong intervention on this point at last week's Council of Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels, and spoke to Commissioner Hogan on the matter.
I have been very consistent in urging caution in the approach to these negotiations, and have expressed Ireland's very grave concerns about the offer of a beef tariff rate quota of 70,000 tonnes made by the EU to Mercosur last October, and our determination not to have this exceeded.
I believe there is a need for continued vigilance in relation to the conduct of these trade negotiations, and I will continue to insist that they are handled appropriately, and in a manner that safeguards the interests of the Irish and European beef sector. I will also continue to work very closely with Member State colleagues in this regard. In particular, I believe full account must be taken of the findings of the Commission’s own assessment of the cumulative impact of trade deals on the agri food sector, and the potentially very damaging impact of Brexit on an already delicately balanced EU beef market.
493. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the case of an application for a TAMS grant by a partnership (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5966/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicants in question applied under TAMS II for a slurry tanker, trailing shoe and dribble bar but only submitted a claim for and were paid for the slurry tanker and dribble bar.
The applicants indicate that they now wish to purchase an umbilical slurry spreading system but have yet to make an application. Grant aid is only available for the purchase of an umbilical slurry spreading system if it includes one of the spreaders listed in the Terms and Conditions of the TAMS II Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) Equipment Scheme. The Terms and Conditions specify that an application is ineligible if one of the spreaders listed is not purchased.
494. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the BGDP and suckle payment will be issued to a person (details supplied); if the payments can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5967/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme provides for six years of payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.
Processing of the application of the person named has recently been finalised and payment will issue in the near future.
495. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an AEOS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6046/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced their AEOS3 contract on 1 May 2013. Payment issued for the 2013-2016 Scheme years.
The person named applied for and was approved under Tranche 3 of GLAS with a contract start date of 1 January 2017 but subsequently opted to withdraw from GLAS and continue in the AEOS3 scheme.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.
These checks have now been completed and payment in respect of the 2017 AEOS scheme year will issue to the person named in the next few weeks.
496. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive a GLAS and organic payment scheme payment for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6072/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe above named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has been paid in respect of the 2015 scheme year and the 2016 advance payment.
An inspection of the GLAS actions was carried out which found an issue with one of the actions chosen. An appeal has been lodged in respect of this. Neither GLAS nor Organics payments can issue until the outcome of the appeal is known.
497. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive a GLAS 3 payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6080/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017.
Validation checks must be passed on all actions on GLAS claims and all cases must clear these checks before payment can issue. My Department is working proactively to complete these checks on all claims to allow for the issue of payments. Once this case clears validations the 2017 advance payment will be made. GLAS payments are issuing on a weekly basis.
498. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to protect and promote small coastal fishing communities in particular those persons that did not avail of the salmon hardship scheme in 2007 and instead waited for salmon stocks to recover in order that they could return to fishing; his plans to subsidise polyvalent licences for these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5850/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe substantive elements of the Deputy's question, relating to licences in the polyvalent segment of the Irish fishing fleet and the protection and promotion of coastal fishing communities, are within the remit of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine and its Agency, Board Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). The remit of my Department is largely confined to the management of salmon stocks both inland and at sea. Management of salmon stocks is carried out by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and is supported by scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and Ireland’s independent Standing Scientific Committee. Stock assessments are carried out on the individual genetic stock in each of Ireland's 147 salmon rivers, river sections and estuaries
The Atlantic salmon is a protected species under the EU Habitats Directive with which Ireland’s current salmon management regime complies. In order to align fully with the Directive and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) principles, the Irish Government closed mixed stock salmon fisheries in 2007 including coastal and offshore fishing. Harvest fisheries are now only allowed on individual river stocks which are shown to have a surplus of fish over their individual conservation limit and in estuaries where the stocks from individual rivers entering the estuaries are each meeting their individual conservation limits.
The Salmon Hardship Scheme was introduced in 2007 under which fishermen active in the commercial salmon fishery could opt to voluntarily cease fishing and undertake not to seek a licence in the future. In excess of €25 million was allocated to the scheme to facilitate payments to fishermen, with a further €5 million provided for community development projects. The scheme closed for applications on 31 December 2007 and ceased in 2008. It is considered that individual river stocks would be in a far more perilous state if the closure of mixed stock fisheries had not been implemented.
499. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the new household waste collection charging arrangements will be in place; the way in which the annual support of €75 for persons with lifelong or longterm medical incontinence to assist with the cost of disposal of incontinence products will be implemented (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5303/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra504. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if persons diagnosed with medical incontinence can avail of the €75 annual reduction on bin charges; if so, the procedure for applying for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5538/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 504 together.
In line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012, and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection are being phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. The necessary regulatory steps have been put in place to give effect to this measure.
It is worth noting that this measure is not ‘new’ for about half of kerbside household waste customers, who are already on an incentivised usage pricing plan, i.e., a plan which contains a per lift or weight related fee.
As announced in mid-2017, mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging is not being introduced. Instead, allowing for a range of charging options, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste, provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Consequently, a pure kilogramme charge for waste collection may not be selected by some households. Instead, some households may use a ‘per lift’ type charge or a ‘weight allowance’ collection service.
An annual support of €75 will be introduced as soon as possible this year and made available for persons with lifelong or long-term medical incontinence. This will help people meet the average annual cost of disposal of medical incontinence products. My Department is in discussion with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive with a view to finalising the details and arrangements of the support as soon as possible, following further consultation with stakeholder groups.
500. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent on awareness, warnings and so on to prevent dog fouling, by county. [5314/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra501. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of fines given to persons that did not remove dog fouling, by county. [5315/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 501 together.
The Litter Pollution Acts, 1997 to 2009, provide the statutory framework to combat littering and include provisions relating to dog fouling. Under the Acts, the primary management and enforcement response to littering (including dog fouling) rests with Local Authorities. It is a matter for each Local Authority to determine the most appropriate course of action to tackle litter pollution locally within the legislation provided, including the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions in relation to litter and dog fouling, taking account of its own local circumstances and priorities.
My Department does not collate statistics on the number of fines issued by Local Authorities in relation to specific litter offences, such as dog fouling offences. However, my Department does publish data on the revenue generated from Local Authority on-the-spot litter fines and Courts' fines. The data is available at:
https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/environment/topics/waste/litter/Pages/Local-Authority-Litter-Fines-and-Expenditure-Statistics.aspx
With regard to litter awareness, my Department has, since 1997, co-funded the Local Authority Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme (ALAGS). Local Authorities are responsible for selecting suitable ALAGS projects for funding and deciding on individual grant allocations. Where possible, the focus is on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups, and involving schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti action. Typically, eligible projects include local media campaigns, clean-ups, primary/secondary school competitions, exhibitions and the production of videos, posters and leaflets.
In 2017, I increased my Department's allocation to overall ALAGS funding by 28% to €884,000. Furthermore, I specifically requested that all Local Authorities in receipt of funding under the scheme to consider, where practicable, expending a portion of their grant on dog fouling awareness projects. A breakdown of the overall 2017 ALAGS allocations is as follows:
|
Local Authority |
2017 ALAGS Allocation |
|
Dublin City |
72,000 |
|
Cork County |
36,000 |
|
Fingal |
36,000 |
|
South Dublin |
36,000 |
|
Kildare |
23,000 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown |
36,000 |
|
Limerick City & County |
51,000 |
|
Meath |
26,000 |
|
Galway County |
26,000 |
|
Donegal |
26,000 |
|
Tipperary County |
42,000 |
|
Kerry |
26,000 |
|
Wexford |
28,000 |
|
Wicklow |
23,000 |
|
Mayo |
23,000 |
|
Louth |
23,000 |
|
Cork City |
36,000 |
|
Clare |
23,000 |
|
Waterford City & County |
49,000 |
|
Kilkenny |
23,000 |
|
Westmeath |
19,000 |
|
Laois |
19,000 |
|
Offaly |
19,000 |
|
Galway City |
36,000 |
|
Cavan |
19,000 |
|
Sligo |
19,000 |
|
Roscommon |
19,000 |
|
Monaghan |
19,000 |
|
Carlow |
19,000 |
|
Longford |
16,000 |
|
Leitrim |
16,000 |
|
|
|
|
Totals |
884,000 |
I intend to maintain at least this level of funding for ALAGS in 2018.
502. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to further develop the natural gas distribution and transmission networks in the north west region; the consultation that has been conducted on these plans to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5376/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have stated in reply to previous Questions the factual position in relation to the routing of gas pipelines or the connection of towns to the gas pipeline network. These are matters for Gas Networks Ireland, a commercial State-sponsored body under the aegis of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the statutorily independent energy regulator, which conducts consultations on its regulatory decisions.
While I have no statutory function in relation to these matters I have, however, also stated that, in my view, the possibility of whether network extensions should, where economically feasible and in line with our energy policy goals in the White Paper, provide for future connections in order to contribute to regional and rural development needs to be addressed. My long-standing position on the gas network is that it should be developed generally in rural Ireland to provide natural gas to as many areas as possible.
Accordingly, I commissioned a study last year on the wider costs and benefits of gas network extensions, to include possible climate and decarbonisation aspects, as well as regional and rural development benefits. My Department appointed external consultants to undertake this work last October and they presented the methodology of the study at an information seminar on the study on 15 January. The study will be completed by the end of February and I will consider the findings at that stage.
503. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of ecar power points planned and available to the public in each local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5409/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ESB, through its eCars programme, has rolled out an extensive public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) with approximately 900 EV charge points of which circa 70 are rapid chargers. A map showing all public charge points in Ireland, including the status and availability of the charge points, is available on the ESB’s website at www.esb.ie/ecars. The management and possible future expansion of its eCars network is an operational matter for the ESB. The recent decision by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in relation to the future ownership of the public charging infrastructure envisages the sale of the infrastructure by ESB Networks in the long-term. However, the continued ownership of the charging network by ESB Networks for a transitional period of up to ten years is provided for in order to safeguard those who rely on public electric vehicle charging infrastructure and result in as little impact to the network as possible in the short to medium term.
The table, provided by ESB eCars, sets out in tabular form the number of current publically available standard and fast chargers available in each county. It should be noted that as such, this list is limited to ESB eCars charge points and would not include any installations on private sites such as hotels.
|
County |
No of standard posts* |
No of standard charge points |
No of fast stations |
|
Donegal |
13 |
26 |
3 |
|
Sligo |
5 |
10 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
3 |
6 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
10 |
20 |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
10 |
20 |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
8 |
16 |
1 |
|
Galway |
14 |
28 |
3 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
12 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
5 |
10 |
0 |
|
Longford |
5 |
10 |
1 |
|
Meath |
11 |
22 |
2 |
|
Louth |
12 |
24 |
3 |
|
Dublin |
82 |
164 |
17 |
|
Kildare |
14 |
28 |
4 |
|
Offaly |
7 |
14 |
0 |
|
Laois |
8 |
16 |
2 |
|
Wicklow |
13 |
26 |
3 |
|
Carlow |
6 |
12 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
13 |
26 |
4 |
|
Kilkenny |
7 |
14 |
3 |
|
Tipperary |
9 |
18 |
4 |
|
Waterford |
12 |
24 |
2 |
|
Clare |
8 |
16 |
2 |
|
Limerick |
13 |
26 |
4 |
|
Cork |
29 |
58 |
6 |
|
Kerry |
14 |
28 |
2 |
*Each AC standard post contains two charge points
I secured additional funding in Budget 2018 to support the provision of public charging. The Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce, which is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is considering a range of options for effective and efficient EV charging. The key objectives are supporting the operation of the existing charging network and facilitating the expansion of the network, with a particular focus on increasing the number of fast chargers. The Taskforce held a stakeholder workshop in November 2017 to explore issues related to the future requirements for the public charging infrastructure. This workshop included representatives of EV owners, the motor industry, local authorities and other key stakeholders. Invaluable feedback was provided which will assist the taskforce in devising a sustainable policy framework for effective and efficient electric vehicle charging.
The new Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant scheme , which came into operation on 1 January 2018, supports the cost of installing a home charger up to a maximum of €600. Up to the end of 2017, the ESB, through its eCars programme, had installed approximately 2,500 home charge points for purchasers of new electric vehicles. The new grant scheme applies to both new and second hand battery EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs.
505. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 410 of 12 December 2017, if he will devise a mechanism that will allow the remaining capacity that was not taken up on the refit 3 scheme to be reopened for applications in view of the fact that only 254MW of the 310MW had been allocated at the time of his reply. [5574/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe REFIT 3 (Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff) scheme, which closed to new applications at the end of 2015, was designed to incentivise the addition of up to 310 MW of renewable electricity from biomass technologies to the Irish electricity grid. Currently 253 MW of renewable electricity projects are compliant under the REFIT 3 scheme and have received a letter of offer from my Department. Under the REFIT 3 Terms and Conditions and the provisions of the relevant State Aid approval from the European Commission, applications for support under the competition were required to be submitted by the end of December 2015.
My Department is focussed on developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) for new applications which is being designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive independent economic appraisal which compared the cost of supporting a range of commercial renewable technologies including from biomass sources. Following on from the recent RESS public consultation and review, a final design proposal will be brought to Government for approval in the coming months, including the overall costs and technologies to be supported. A formal application for State Aid clearance from the European Commission will then commence.
506. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ComReg's broadband market review has yet to be published; if he has been provided with reasoning for these delays; and if he will request the commission to ensure its immediate publication. [5665/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no function in the matter referred to by the Deputy. The regulation of the wholesale local access and wholesale central access markets and the companies operating within them, to the extent permitted by law, is a statutory function of Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) in accordance with Section 10(1)(a) of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 (No 20/2002).
A letter of formal notice was issued by the European Commission requesting observations in relation to completion of reviews by ComReg of reviews of the relevant wholesale markets within the prescribed timeframe. A response to the letter of formal notice was issued in December 2017, informing the Commission that it is expected that the draft measures to be adopted by ComReg in the Wholesale Local Access and the Wholesale Central Access markets will be notified by ComReg to the Commission in the coming months
