Vol. 406 No. 7
10 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications when proposals from Telecom Éireann for new call charges were received by his Department; when he intends to announce his decision on these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
13 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications the action he proposes to take to have telephone charges reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
24 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if he will arrange for the publication of the submission made to him by Telecom Éireann regarding their proposals for changes in pricing policy, to allow an informed debate to take place; if he will outline his views on the Telecom proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
26 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications whether he intends to sanction the proposed increases in domestic telephone calls announced by Telecom Éireann; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship the increased charge will cause; and if he will outline the steps he proposes taking with regard to the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 13, 24 and 26 together.
In August 1990 Telecom Éireann submitted proposals for a revised tariff system for certain telephone charges. Since my appointment as Minister with responsibility for communications, I have spent some time studying Telecom's proposals.
As Deputies will be aware it is not the practice to give details of proposals from State bodies to Government Departments. However, I am prepared to indicate the broad areas covered by the proposals. They include: reducing some truck call charges, reducing cellular phone charges, reducing the local unitcall fee, introduction of local call timing, expansion of provincial local call areas and changes in operator and pay phone charges.
Deputies will be aware of my view that Telecom charges are too high and must come down, and for that reason I am engaged in a very thorough examination of the proposals. I am not convinced of the appropriateness of certain aspects of the proposals. I hope to complete my examination of the proposals quickly and I expect to be in a position to make a decision on the proposals in a few weeks.
I thank the Minister for his reply. In the course of his examination will he pay particular attention to several aspects including the social and household aspects, as well as commercial attitudes to Telecom Éireann? Will he bear in mind that this is one of the most profitable commercial organisations in the country? They made £79 million last year and it is predicted they will make at least £100 million this year. Will the Minister bear in mind, too, that internal and international charges here are higher than in most countries in the European Community and that the proposal in particular to have timed local charges will have serious consequences for the old, the disadvantaged, the sick, the handicapped and people in those categories? It will also have serious——
Sorry to interrupt the Deputy, but I must dissuade him from putting questions in an omnibus form of this nature. Could we have a little brevity in the matter? Too many questions have been put together.
Thank you very much, a Cheann Comhairle, for your advice. As you know I am new to the job and your advice is always welcome. I will conclude by asking if the Minister is aware of the serious consequences of timed charges for organisations which look after the sick, the disadvantaged and such people? Are we not talking here in terms of efforts being made to prepare this company for privatisation?
The Deputy has a question down later about privatisation. As I said in my reply, I am not convinced of the appropriateness of certain aspects of the proposals, including the one the Deputy mentioned. I will be studying the matter very carefully and I will of course take into account all the points mentioned by the Deputy.
I notice in the Minister's original reply that he put much emphasis on reduction and expansion. If there is to be so much good news in the report when it eventually comes out can the Minister explain why it sat on the desk of his predecessor since the middle of August last? In view of what we know of his predecessor and if there is so much good news in the report in terms of reduction and expansion, why did he not take the opportunity to make those announcements at that time?
The proposals are not all good news. They are a little like the curate's egg, good in spots. I am examining both the good aspects and the aspects about which I am concerned.
