Vol. 406 No. 7
62 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that (1) the number of malicious telephone calls is increasing and (2) the subsequent anguish caused by such calls, particularly to women; if he will instruct Telecom Éireann to consider this matter with a view to devising ways of dealing with the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have received no information that the number of malicious telephone calls is increasing. The Postal, and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, gives Telecom Éireann the power to make regulations under a scheme providing for the prohibition of transmission of objectionable matter. Telecom Éireann have made such regulations in the Telecommunications Scheme 1990 (S.I. No. 91/1990) and I have no function in the matter. In any event I should point out that investigation of malicious calls is in the first instance a matter for the gardaí.
