13 Mar 2013, 14:29
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications tomorrow meets with representatives from ComReg to consider Eircom’s proposals on reducing its wholesale line rental.
13 March 2013
Chairman of the Committee Tom Hayes TD says: “The meeting with ComReg representatives tomorrow provides our Committee with an opportunity to assess Eircom's approach to wholesale line rental. Committee Members are particularly interested in exploring the impact of Eircom's approach on broadband provision in rural areas. Ireland ranks mid-table among the EU’s 27 Member States on the delivery of broadband. There is a direct correlation between high speed broadband and indigenous and foreign direct investment and it is imperative that Ireland moves towards the top of the table in the coming years, despite the barriers posed by our relatively dispersed population. Committee Members are expected to raise with ComReg the perception within rural communities that broadband is more expensive and of slower speeds than in urban areas, and the potential role for Eircom in its wholesale line rental pricing to mitigate this imbalance.”
The meeting is also scheduled to consider a range of European legislative proposals: COM(2013)18; COM(2013)26; COM(2013)27; COM(2013)28; COM(2013)29; COM(2013)30; COM(2013)31; COM(2013)40; and COM(2013)48
The meeting commences tomorrow 14 March at 10 am in Committee Room 3, LH 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed live here.
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +353 1 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
Committee Membership
Deputies
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Féin
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Tom Fleming, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Tom Hayes, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Seán Kenny, Labour
Eamonn Moloney, Labour
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fáil
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Ann Phelan, Labour
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Senators
Terry Brennan
Sean D. Barrett
Eamonn Coghlan
Paschal Mooney
Ned O’Sullivan
John Whelan