New legislation that will transform the position of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation into a three-person commission was announced this week by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke.

The new Bill, to be known as Communications (Regulation) Bill, proposes that the functions, staff and Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (ODTR) be transferred to the new commission, to be called the Commission for Telecommunications Regulation.

The new commission will have a broader scope of powers than those currently available to the director as well as greater power to enforce regulatory decisions.

The Bill, which is expected to became law towards the end of the year, contains provision for Ms Etain Doyle, the current Director of Telecommunications Regulation, to become a member of the new commission.

It is anticipated that she will join to help ensure a degree of continuity between the ODTR and the commission.