Vol. 574 No. 1
149 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the response he has received to his call made on 1 October 2003 for the abolition of roaming charges for mobile phones here; if the companies have agreed to abolish these charges by early 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26259/03]
152 Mr. English asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he is considering giving the Communications Regulator a directive to introduce national roaming into the mobile phone marketplace to facilitate better coverage and more intense competition on phone charges. [26371/03]
174 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he plans to give a directive to ComReg to introduce national roaming into the mobile phone marketplace to promote better competition and better network coverage. [26372/03]
179 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the pricing policies of mobile phone companies; if he has satisfied himself that there is sufficient competition to offer users real choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26260/03]
340 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which he expects mobile telephone charges here to come into line with those in other EU and non EU countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26586/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 152, 174, 179 and 340 together.
Deputies will be aware that I have recently spoken out on my dissatisfaction at the level of call roaming charges being applied by mobile phone operators in this State. As a Minister from a Border county, I am aware of the effect of exorbitant mobile call roaming charges on local people and local businesses.
The issue is not simply one of mobile phone operators introducing all-Ireland tariffs, although this in itself is to be welcomed. The level of such tariffs and the terms and conditions attached also need to be examined in order to ensure that consumers are getting a fair deal.
While I am not directly responsible for the regulation of call roaming charges, this area coming under the jurisdiction of the Commission for Communications Regulation, I have asked the Commission to bring forward proposals to remedy this situation. This request to the Commission was made in the context of a general review of the impact of the policy directions I issued to them last February. The purpose of the general review is to ascertain what further actions may be necessary to further regulatory priorities in the sector. In the interim, I will be keeping the situation under review and will continue to encourage mobile phone operators to address this matter themselves.
The framework regulations, which I signed into law in July this year, mandates the Commission for Communications Regulation to conduct market definition and analysis processes in certain markets identified by the European Commission in a published recommendation. These markets are selected on the basis of containing characteristics which may be such as to justify the imposition of regulatory obligations.
I note that the Commission for Communications Regulation has started the process of market definition and analysis into two separate segments of the mobile telephony market. I welcome the start of this investigative process and I trust that a positive outcome will ensue.
