Vol. 447 No. 1
266 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the proposal made by the Civil and Public Servants Union that an important way to promote employment opportunity for visually impaired people is by introducing, at EU level, facilities whereby all telecommunications switchboards and terminals are capable of adaption; and if he will take an initiative at EU level to promote this. [3237/94]
EU policy with respect to telecommunications terminal equipment is concerned primarily with the technical specifications of such equipment in order to ensure, among other things the safety and interoperability of the equipment. The Deputy will appreciate that I have no function with regard to employment policy and it would be inappropriate for me to introduce employment related measures into this area at EU level.
The Deputy will be interested to hear, however, that the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, in which my Department is represented, has been involved for some time in the development of standards for the use of telecommunications terminal equipment for people with special needs including the visually impaired. I understand, indeed, that certain types of telecommunications terminal equipment for use by the visually impaired, including switchboards, are available and are in use.
