I have regular meetings with the director on the range of issues for which she has responsibility. On the licensing arrangements for third generation mobile telephony services, I understand the director intends carrying out a public consultation on this issue shortly prior to holding a competition for the award of licences.
The director has sufficient powers to carry out this licensing function. However, new legislation will be required to authorise the use of radio frequency spectrum by the third generation mobile telephony operators and this will take the form of a statutory instrument to be made under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts. The draft instrument is to be developed by the director and will require my consent before it is enacted.
On the question of dissatisfaction and delays being experienced by applicant service providers, I assume the Deputy is referring to the difficulties being experienced by the present operators of second generation mobile telephony systems in obtaining planning permission; I do not know if that is what the Deputy meant. This is a matter, as the Deputy knows, for An Bord Pleanála.
It is not possible to anticipate the difficulties, if any, that may be encountered by licensees in rolling out their third generation mobile networks as the specific requirements in relation to the roll-out of networks have yet to be developed by the director.