Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 9

Written Answers. - Counselling Service's Telephone Charges.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

129 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the La Leche League of Ireland, which offers support and information to women who wish to breast feed their babies, is being victimised by Telecom éireann who are now seeking to add business rate VAT at 12.5 per cent to the domestic phone bills of the voluntary counsellors of the league; and if he will direct Telecom to end this practice forthwith as the organisation's listing in phone directories has now been withdrawn.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

130 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Telecom éireann has recently made a decision clarifying counsellors of La Leche League of Ireland as business users of the telephone service and that the counsellors are now being charged 12.5 per cent VAT on all their domestic calls; and if he will, as the Minister responsible for womens' rights, intervene with Telecom éireann to ensure that no penalty is placed on the telephone counselling service which is offered by La Leche League.

Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications (Mr. S. Brennan)

I propose to take Question Nos. 129 and 130 together.

This matter is primarily an operational matter for Telecom éireann but I have had inquiries made in the company and I understand that after discussions between La Leche League of Ireland and the company the matter has been settled to the satisfaction of La Leche.