Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2005
68 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has used his directive prerogative to encourage an improvement in the quality and coverage of mobile telephone services throughout the country; if he has given any direction to the regulator in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8314/05]
View answer115 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has used his directive prerogative to encourage an improvement in the quality and coverage of mobile telephone services throughout the country; if he has given any direction to the regulator in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8523/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 115 together.
I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 168 on 14 December 2004, when I replied as follows:
The Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, as the independent regulator of the sector, has the responsibility under the transposed European regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services, and the Communications (Regulation) Act 2002, to regulate the electronic communications sector, including the areas raised by the Deputy. It has statutory independence in carrying out this function.
As Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I have responsibility for overall strategic policy and legislation in the sector. In this regard section 13 of the Communications (Regulation) Act 2002 allows me to issue policy directions to ComReg, in the interest of the proper and effective regulation of the electronic communications markets. However, actual regulatory interventions or decisions relating to operators, such as quality and coverage, are the responsibility of ComReg, the independent regulator. In March 2004 my predecessor issued policy directions including a direction on competition. These directions can be viewed on my Department's website at www.dcmnr.ie.
