Vol. 406 No. 7
63 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he has given any consideration to introducing a blocking device for chatlines which are charged at premium rates and are a source of concern to many Telecom Éireann subscribers, who receive excessive telephone bills, when the telephone is used to chatline services by unauthorised persons.
Chatline service — i.e. live telephone interaction between groups of individuals at premium rates — are not available on Telecom Éireann's network and my understanding is that chatline services provided in the UK are not accessible by subscribers on the Telecom network. The question, therefore, of introducing a blocking device for chatlines, which would, in any event be a matter for Telecom Éireann and not for me, does not arise.
