The Consultation Paper on Regulatory Appeals, which was published in July 2006, primarily focuses on appeals relating to major economic and sectoral regulatory authorities, such as: the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg); the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR); the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER); the Financial Regulator; the Competition Authority; and the Commission for Taxi Regulation.
It describes existing appeals mechanisms in place for these Regulators, sets out some of the issues that must be examined in designing or reviewing systems for appeals and invites submissions from interested parties. The Paper also poses a number of questions in relation to regulatory appeals to assist respondents with their submissions.
The deadline for receipt of submissions in response to the Consultation Paper was 31 October 2006. On 14th September 2006, the Department of the Taoiseach hosted a consultation seminar on regulatory appeals to stimulate debate on the subject of appeals in advance of the closing date for receipt of responses to the Consultation Paper. Speakers at the Seminar included Mr Noel Dempsey, T.D., Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Rory Brady, S.C., Attorney General, Mr Andy Cullen, Assistant Secretary, Department of Transport, Mr Pavel Telicka, Chair of the European Policy Centre's Better Regulation Task Force, Mr Garrett Blaney, Viridion plc and Mr Mike Byrne, Commissioner, ComReg. Ms Olivia O' Leary acted as Moderator at the Seminar. Attached below is Issue No. 46 of the Link Newsletter which contains an article on the Consultation Seminar on Regulatory Appeals. This article can be found on pages 8 and 9 of the Newsletter.
The information gathered from both the seminar and submissions were considered in the context of the independent Review of the Economic Regulatory Environment which has now been published by Government .