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Telecommunications Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 May 2004

Wednesday, 12 May 2004

Questions (39)

Seán Ryan

Question:

56 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on complaints regarding misleading advertising by telecom operators and ComReg’s seeming inability to regulate sales advertising by mobile and fixed line operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13720/04]

View answer

Written answers

Monitoring and regulation of the advertising of telecoms services is the responsibility of the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland. However, ComReg does regulate fixed telecoms services offered via a code of practice for carrier pre-select services, CPS. Carrier pre-selection, CPS, enables consumers to exercise their choice by selecting in advance a specific operator to carry some or all of their telephone calls.

The code of practice for CPS sets out the rules and procedures which operators wishing to offer CPS services in the Republic of Ireland must follow. It covers customer contracts, use of customer information, order-handling process, promotion of CPS, bill payment, tariff presentation, complaint and inquiry handling and the activities of the telecommunications service providers to "win back" lost customers.

All operators providing CPS, including Eircom, are bound by the CPS code of practice. ComReg conducts investigations on an ongoing basis into adherence to the CPS code of practice in response to issues raised by operators and consumers alike.

ComReg may notify an operator that it is in breach of its obligations. Furthermore, ComReg may publish the particulars of such notification. ComReg has received a number of complaints in regard to possible breaches of the CPS code of practice and has upheld a number of these in regard to specific telecoms operators. Details of these have been published in the national newspapers to ensure that consumers are aware of these findings. The text of these decisions can also be found on ComReg's website.

Regarding mobile operators, I understand responsibility in this area, as already mentioned, rests with the Advertising Standards Authority.

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