Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021
50. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the adoption and implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code that was due to take effect in December 2018; the penalties that have been applied to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8422/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been working to implement Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code. The Code represents a revision of the entire EU regulatory framework and will repeal the Framework Directive, the Authorisation Directive, the Access Directive and the Universal Services Directive. Elements of the Code came into effect on 18 December 2020.
The transposition process has included extensive and ongoing engagement with relevant key stakeholders, including industry, the Regulator and the European Commission. In keeping with that stakeholder engagement, my Department has shared the text for the end user rights element with industry which is available to view on gov.ie. Following the expected finalisation of the draft text in the coming weeks, my Department will publish the full text in a public consultation. The text will then be finalised having considered submissions received, following which the European Commission will be notified of the transposition. It is expected that transposition will be completed early in Q2.
No penalties have been applied to Ireland in relation to this transposition. My Department provides regular updates to the European Commission on progress in transposing the Directive and will continue to do so pending final notification of completion of the transposition process.
