Electronic Communications Regulatory Package Transposed into Irish Law and signed by the Minister on the 21st July 2003
Download or view the following regulations signed by the Minister on the 21st July 2003;
In March 2002, the European Parliament and EU Council of Ministers adopted a package of legislative proposals The convergence of these sectors underlies the approach to be taken by Ireland and other Member States over the coming years to bring all transmission networks and associated services together under a single regulatory framework.
Purpose of the new legislation:
Designed to bring European Community legislation on electronic communications into line with the far-reaching changes, including technological convergence, taking place in the telecommunications, media and information technologies sectors.
To strengthen competition in the electronic communications markets in the EU and to simplify and clarify the current complex regulatory framework by reducing the number of specific legal measures therein.
To provide a lighter regulatory touch in those cases where markets have become more competitive while attempting to ensure that a minimum of services are available to all users at an affordable price and that the basic rights of consumers continue to be protected.
Four of the Directives Framework,
Authorisation, Universal Service and Access entered into force on 24 April 2002 and the fifth ( Data Protection) on 31 July 2002, with transposition deadlines of 15 months from entry into force. Therefore the first four must be transposed into national law by 25 July 2003 and the fifth must be transposed into national law by 31 October 2003. The Decision on a regulatory framework for radio spectrum policy
does not require transposition into national law.
Other relevant documents relating to the the Regulatory Package can be viewed on the European Commissions website:
The following are the drafts of the Regulations published for the Public Consultation in December 2002:
The Department has prepared Guidance notes on the Transposition of the Directives and these notes can be viewed via the link below:
Guidance notes on Transposition of Directives
EU Electronic Communications Market Definition and Analysis Regulations
(Repealed and Incorporated into the Framework Regulation, S.I. 307 of 2003)
Dermot Ahern T.D. Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has signed into law regulations which will enable ComReg undertake a market definition and analysis procedure and decide whether to impose, maintain or change regulatory obligations.
This is the first step in the transposition of the new EU Regulatory Package of legislative proposals designed to bring current Community legislation on electronic communications into line with the far-reaching changes, including technological convergence, taking place in the telecommunications, media and information technologies sectors
The purpose of the Regulations is to enable ComReg gather data including financial information, necessary for it to carry out the market definition and analysis required under the Framework Directive. ComReg should then be prepared, upon the introduction of the new regulatory regime in July 2003, to decide whether or not to impose, maintain or withdraw regulatory obligations on operators with significant market power.