asked the Minister for Communications the way in which Irish costs of a basket covering a range of business telephone services compare with each EC country and the EC average; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Business Telephone Services.
7.
Details of Telecom Éireann's charges for, inter alia, business telephone services are published in Statutory Instrument No. 256 of 1988 entitled Telephone (Amendment) (No. 2) Scheme, 1988.
There are no universally accepted studies done which would enable Irish costs of a basket covering a range of business telephone services to be meaningfully compared as the Deputy suggests. Indeed, there is no single methodology currently available which would be suitable for use in all EC countries, though I understand that efforts are currently being made in international fora to develop a common methodology.
Could the Minister tell the House whether he has sought to look at efforts that have been made, such as by Optel in the UK? Would he accept that Ireland figures very poorly as the most expensive in terms of business services?
The Deputy continues to trot out this chestnut regularly in this House. He knows that it is just not fact. Take, for example, charges. One particular interest in Ireland, as distinct from most of the rest of Europe, other than Greece and Luxembourg, is that there is no such thing as timed local calls. Local calls in all other EC countries are timed and where they are timed the cost of the call increases sharply as its duration increases. This is the difficulty that all international fora are having in coming up with a common methodology. It has been attempted at European Community level and at OECD level. Using the criteria as best we can — and I answered the question for the Deputy on the last occasion in the House in relation to charges — we have a very favourable rating as far as prices are concerned now, in view of the decreases in cost that have been brought about by the efficiencies in Telecom Éireann, which I was glad to be able to announce recently.
Arising from the Minister's reference to timed local calls, is he aware that An Bord Telecom intend to introduce time charges for local calls?
I am aware that they come looking sometimes for different costs and suggested charges, but they have to get sanction for them. There is no question of sanction for that at this stage.
It would be refused if they requested it, would it?
Perhaps a final question from Deputy Bruton.
In order to have this matter looked at fairly, could the Minister seek to assemble comparisons such as that made by Optel showing Ireland as the most expensive location for business users? Could he seek to gather such assessments and publish for the House a fair picture of where An Bord Telecom stand, because it is crucial?
As I say, the Deputy put down a question last month and I gave him the exact information that he is looking for now. He keeps trotting out Optel and other sources. He did so when I was answering questions on energy. He trotted out questions about ESB charges, using information that came from away back in 1985 and 1986, rather than up to date information.
The price of a gallon of petrol is too high.