Minister to set up new communication commission

Dermot Ahern, the Minister for Communication, Marine and Natural Resources is to set up the new Commission for Communication Regulation (Comreg) on 1 December, 2002.

This date will mark the fourth anniversary of the liberalisation of the telecommunications market in 1998.

The Minister will issue the new commission with his draft policy directive, including the introduction of flat internet access, the following day, 2 December.

The policy directive will focus on Comreg support for the Government's policy on greater access to broadband and on its policy of minimising the cost of regulation to the telecoms sector.

The Minister is also anxious to establish consistency between the regulatory obligation imposed in Ireland and those of other European countries.

Two new commissioners Isolde Goggin and John Doherty will join Etain Doyle to take up their new posts to form the three-person commission.