John Doherty has been appointed to replace Etain Doyle as the new chairman of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg)
This time last month Etain Doyle revealed her intention to step down from the €157,000 a year role when her term in office ends on 30 November, this Sunday.
A former head of business development at IDA Ireland, Doherty has served as a ComReg commissioner since it became a three-person commission last year, serving along with Doyle and former Competition Authority senior executive Isolde Goggin.
Doherty will be appointed on the 1 December for a one-year term as chairman. His appointment will coincide with an annual review of the telecommunications sector, including the progress so far with flat rate internet access (FRIACO), mobile number portability and the creation of a new regulatory framework for the communications industry.
A recent key industry development that will feature highly among Doherty’s new responsibilities was the decision by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dermot Ahern, to give regulation of the IE Domain Registry (IEDR) to ComReg, following a year of controversy surrounding an investigation into the IEDR’s finances and the suspension of its chief executive Mike Fagan. The decision was taken because the .ie domain name is a national resource and subsequently should be monitored.
Minister Ahern said he welcomed Doherty’s appointment and looked forward to working with the body to develop Ireland’s communications sector.
By John Kennedy.
