Willie O'Dea
Ceist:39. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment how he proposes to ensure a modern, cohesive and well-resourced regulatory framework for digital businesses. [31435/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 29 June 2023
Ceisteanna (39)
Freagraí scríofa
Government restated its commitment to a well-resourced, modern and coherent regulatory framework for digital in the National Digital Strategy, which was launched in February 2022.
We have made many advances towards delivering on this commitment.
A Senior Officials Group for Digital Issues (SOG Digital) has been established with the aim of ensuring coherence across all Departments with digital policy responsibilities. It meets 9 or 10 times a year, reporting to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery. My Department plays a central role on that Group.
There is also regular engagement between that Senior Officials Group and the four main digital regulators (the Digital Regulators' Group) as well as direct engagement with industry.
My Department also chairs a weekly meeting to which Departments that have live EU negotiations on digital files attend. This meeting provides a forum for information sharing and discussion on cross-cutting issues that arise during those negotiations.
Collectively these co-ordination measures allow for the detection of cross-overs and synergies across the complex suite of new digital laws and provides for fora at which implementation measures can be discussed. Outputs are used to inform Government in their work on a coherent framework for digital regulation.
My Department is also responsible for the implementation of the EU’s Digital Services Act in Ireland.
In March this year Government approved the General Scheme for the Digital Service Bill which will give effect to designation of Coimisiún na Meán as Ireland’s lead competent authority. Provisions were made in the General Scheme that are designed to support joined up working by Coimisiún na Meán and other regulators, both in Ireland and across the EU, which will promote coherence and maximise resources.
Government also approved an allocation of €2.7 million to my Department for 2023 to fund Coimisiún na Meán in its lead role for implementing the EU’s Digital Services Act in Ireland. This funding has allowed recruitment to be progressed for a Commissioner for Digital Services and for other staff so that Coimisiún na Meán has the resources available to undertake preparatory work and ensure that Ireland is fully equipped for the implementation and enforcement of the Digital Services Act by 17 February 2024, when it comes into full effect. My Department is now working to identify what resources will be needed for Coimisiún na Meán after the 17 February 2024 when the Digital Services Act’s full enforcement network is up and running.
My Department also has responsibility for negotiations at EU level on the proposed Artificial Intelligence Act and proposed Data Act. Regulatory Impact Assessments are being undertaken by my officials which will identify implementation and enforcement frameworks that will inform how these regulations can be implemented in manner that supports coherency of the regulatory framework in Ireland.
Ensuring that the regulatory framework in Ireland is well resourced and properly connected will continue to be a priority for my Department so as to ensure an effective, coherent digital regulatory environment is available for businesses.