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Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021

Tuesday, 21 September 2021

Questions (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 99, 100, 101, 102)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

90. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work that is being done by his Department to identify technical and regulatory solutions to the problem of scam calling. [44501/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

91. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on whether there has been a large increase in scam calling recently; if work has been undertaken to identify the extent of this increase that is as a result of the hacking of the HSE and the resulting loss of data. [44502/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

92. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the work that is being carried out by his Department to identify technical and regulatory solutions to the problem of neighbour spoofing (details supplied). [44503/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

93. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the adequacy of consumer protection and security for consumers in the mobile phone industry; and his views on whether security solutions are outdated and inadequate to protect customers from scam calling. [44504/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

94. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out investigations of measures being taken to protect citizens from scam calling in other jurisdictions, such as the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act in the US; and if he has legal and regulatory powers to legislate against such scam calls here. [44505/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

95. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if any work is being carried out at European level to prevent citizens from scam calling and other unethical phone practices. [44506/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

96. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department has carried out any investigation of robust call authentication SHAKEN and STIR protocols to verify caller identification; and if he has had any communication with the Commission for Communications Regulation on technological solutions to neighbourhood spoofing and other unethical practices. [44507/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

97. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the adoption of call authentication technologies to verify that incoming calls are legitimate before ever reaching consumers; if he has had any discussions with the regulator, industry bodies, the Department of Justice, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment or any other bodies regarding the adoption of authentication technologies for the telephone industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44508/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

99. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the increase in scam phone calls being received and reported by members of the public; and the role he sees for his Department under the consumer protection remit in building a picture of the nature and quantity of scam calls. [44515/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

100. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the role his Department has in protecting consumers from automated scam calls. [44516/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

101. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action his Department has taken to investigate the impact of scam calls based on age; if his Department has data on whether reliance on telephony makes older persons more susceptible to scam calls; the action being taken by his Department to protect older persons from scam calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44517/21]

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Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

102. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will establish a joint working group on scam calling with the relevant Departments and regulatory and industry bodies to identify legal, technological and regulatory solutions to the related issues of autodialling commercial calls, telephony fraud, number spoofing and leaking of customer data which leaves vulnerable consumers open to targeting for commercial exploitation, excessive contact, sharp practice and fraud over the telephone. [44518/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 99, 100, 101 and 102 together.

I am aware of phone customers in Ireland recently experiencing an escalated level of nuisance scam calls and smishing and that they can cause considerable distress and anxiety, in addition to causing some customers to incur additional charges.

It is not possible, from a telecoms point of view, to assess the level of scam call activity or to quantify it with any accuracy. While operators may notice an upsurge in traffic or change in patterns of traffic, this might not be related to scam calls.

While I understand that it is not possible to identify scam call numbers in advance, which can resemble normal, familiar geographical or international numbers encountered on a daily basis, the Regulator has published information for consumers in relation to this issue: www.comreg.ie/consumer-information/mobile-phone/scam-calls-2/. This provides advice urging vigilance at all times on the part of consumers and listing suggestions for the proactive steps to be taken by those receiving scam calls, and in particular, advising people not to answer, or to call back any number which they do not recognise or where there is a bland or no voicemail left. The notice also provides a phone number for consumers to contact and the Regulator also offers a text call back service and other facilities to assist consumers.

I understand that An Garda Síochána has also raised public awareness to warn phone users on the need to remain continually alert with respect to calls and text messages

Unfortunately, there is no immediate technical or (telecoms) legislative solution to scam calls, or smishing. I understand that industry operators are actively analysing the position at network level and the matter continues to be monitored by the Regulator.

The advice to the public remains focused on the importance of being vigilant.

Question No. 91 answered with Question No. 90.
Question No. 92 answered with Question No. 90.
Question No. 93 answered with Question No. 90.
Question No. 94 answered with Question No. 90.
Question No. 95 answered with Question No. 90.
Question No. 96 answered with Question No. 90.
Question No. 97 answered with Question No. 90.
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