The Postal & Telecommunications Services Act of 1983
The Postal and Telecommunications Services Act of 1983, enacted by the government of Ireland to update and reorganize services, created the Post Office and the Irish Telecommunications Board. The Act gave provisions for structuring, governing and financing the new companies.
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History
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David Dodd of the Law Society of Ireland says the country's postal services have traditionally been controlled by a state-run monopoly. Prior to the 1983 Act, the National Postal Service was governed by the Department of Posts and Telegraphs.
The Irish Telecommunications Board
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The 1983 Act gave the Irish Telecommunications Board exclusive control of Ireland's telecommunications services. The 1983 Act granted the Irish Telecommunications Board exclusive privilege to provide telecommunications services in Ireland. The Act provided guidelines for how individuals would be charged for telecommunications services and how that money would be collected.
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The Post Office
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An Irish letterbox is a familar sight. The 1983 Act stated that the new Post Office would provide "a national postal service." It deemed unsanctioned search and seizure of mailed items to be unlawful. The Act provided for the management of the preexisting Post Office Savings Bank.
Other Provisions
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Private land could be acquired for postal and telecommunications services under the 1983 Act. The 1983 Act lists the duties of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs and the process for electing directors for the new companies. A review by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development says that the Act's provision allowing for the acquisition of private land has since been abolished. The 1983 Act modernized sections from previous acts. It revoked some acts entirely, including the Telegraph Act of 1885.
Effects
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Ireland, like other European countries, has moved to privatize its telecommunications services. According to Tom Carney of the Law Society of Ireland, European governments have been privatizing telecommunications services for decades. The exclusive control by the Irish Telecommunications Board given by the 1983 Act has been progressively narrowed by legislation. Licensing and other conditions within the 1983 Act were the genesis for the current liberalization of telecommunications services in Ireland.
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References
Resources
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