The Department is responsible for 18 commercial, non-commercial and regulatory state bodies.
An Post
An Post is Ireland's national postal service provider. It is a major commercial organisation providing a wide range of services which encompass postal, communication, retail and money transmission services. It is one of Ireland's largest companies directly employing over 9,600 people through its national network of retail, processing and delivery points.
Website: www.anpost.ie
Legislation: The Postal & Telecommunications Act, 1983
Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ)
BGÉ is the owner and operator of the gas transportation network in the State. Its primary activities are gas procurement and supply. The Board supplies over 600,000 residential customers and over 20,000 industrial and commercial customers. BGÉ is also a supplier of Electricity.
Website: www.bordgais.ie
Legislation: The Gas Act, 1976
Bord na Móna plc
Bord na Móna is the supplier of products and services based principally on peat. The Company is also providing products and services in the environmental, renewable energy, electricity generation and waste management business sectors.
Website: www.bnm.ie
Legislation: Turf Development Act, 1998
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) was established on 1 October 2009, as an independent regulator for radio and television broadcasters in Ireland. The BAI has a range of objectives and functions. In carrying out its functions, the BAI must make sure that its approach to regulation is proportionate and takes into account the range and type of broadcasting services in Ireland. The BAI has a responsibility to ensure that broadcast regulation is stable. The Authority also has a role to play in encouraging technological development in the broadcasting sector.
Website: www.bai.ie
Legislation: Broadcasting Act, 2009
Commission for Communications Regulation (Comreg)
ComReg is a statutory body charged with the regulation of the communications market in Ireland. Its remit covers a range of communications services from the traditional telephone wire service to operators providing television services, from mobile phone networks to the postal service.
Website: www.comreg.ie
Legislation: Communications Regulation Act, 2002
Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is responsible for the licensing and authorisation of undertakings, price regulation and market development of the electricity and gas sectors in line with its stautory functions and national and EU requirements.
Website: www.cer.ie
Legislation: Electricity Regulation Act, 1999
Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA)
The Digital Hub Development Agency was established under the Digital Hub Development Act 2003 to oversee the development of the Digital Hub, Ireland's flagship in the digital media sector.
Website: www.thedigitalhub.ie
Legislation: Digital Hub Development Agency Act, 2003
EirGrid plc
Eirgrid plc was established to act as the independent Transmission System Operator (TSO), in line with the requirements of the EU Electricity Directive and became operational as the TSO on 1 July 2006.
Website: www.eirgrid.com
Legislation: Regulation 50 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations, 2000, S.I. 445 of 2000
Electricity Supply Board (ESB)
ESB is a statutory corporation established under the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927. Its responsibilities include:
- electricity generation
- electricity supply to end use customers
- electricity networks - ESB owns the high voltage transmission system and owns and operates the medium to low voltage electricity distribution system
Website: www.esb.ie
Legislation: Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act, 1998
Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency)
A North-South implementation body, the Loughs Agency is responsible for the management, conservation, protection, improvement and development of inland fisheries, licensing of aquaculture; and the development of marine tourism of the Foyle and Carlingford Areas.
Website: www.lough-agency.org
Legislation: Foyles Fisheries Act 1952 as amended by Communications Regulation Act, 2007
Inland Fisheries Ireland
On 1 July 2010 Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) was established replacing the Central and 7 Regional Fisheries Boards. The principal role of IFI is the protection and conservation of the State’s inland fisheries resource. It is also required to promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, marketing, development and improvement of the inland fisheries resource.
Website: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/
Legislation: Inland Fisheries Act, 2010
Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC)
Following the sale of its business and commercial assets (Whitegate Refinery and Bantry Storage terminal) in July 2001, the INPC has no operational capacity/employees. Its current activities are limited to its rights and obligations under the Sale and Purchase Agreement attaching to the 2001 transaction.
Legislation: Irish Petroleum Acts, 1979 & 2001
Mining Board
The Mining Board is an independent board set up under the Minerals Development Act 1940. Its function is to determine compensation in various cases. It is also charged with deciding what minerals are to be excepted from the State's exclusive right to work minerals under that Act.
Legislation: Minerals Development Act 1940
National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA)
Ireland has obligations under (a) EU Directives and (b) International Energy Agency (IEA) rules to hold reserve oil stocks. NORA was established in 1995, as a subsidiary of the INPC, to fulfil this obligation. NORA arranges for the purchase, leasing and storage of national strategic oil stocks at a level determined annually by the Minister.
Website: www.nora.ie
Legislation: National Oil Reserves Agency Act, 2007 (No 7. of 2007)
Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI)
Ordnance Survey Ireland is the national mapping agency of the State. Their primary product is mapping services, producing a very comprehensive range of urban, rural, tourist and leisure maps at a variety of scales. These maps are produced in digital form as well as on paper. The base data used to create the map series is also used to produce other products such as aerial photography and digital terrain models.
Website: www.osi.ie
Legislation: Ordnance Survey Act, 2001
Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)
RTÉ is the national public service broadcaster and is a statutorily independent body. It operates two national television services (RTÉ 1 and RTÉ 2 ) and four national radio services (RTÉ 1, 2FM, Raidio na Gaeltachta and Lyric FM).
Website: www.rte.ie
Legislation: Broadcasting Act, 2009
Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI)
Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) , formerly SEI, was established in 2002 to promote and assist the development of sustainable energy.
Website: www.seai.ie
Legislation: Sustainable Energy Act, 2002
TG4
The Irish language television channel and an independent statutory body.
Website: www.tg4.ie
Legislation: Broadcasting Act, 2009
Corporate Governance Unit
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Elm House, Cavan