Mobile Telephony.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2005

Thursday, 10 March 2005

Ceisteanna (59, 60, 61, 62)

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

47 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish mobile phone customers will have to pay significantly more than British subscribers to use third generation mobile phone technology; his views on whether Irish mobile phone charges continue to be excessive in comparison to European norms; if he has plans to tackle these excessive rates in the mobile phone industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8216/05]

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

56 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Ireland’s position in the European league in respect of mobile telephone costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8353/05]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

64 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the high cost of mobile telephone use here as compared to other jurisdictions; if he has taken any policy initiatives arising from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8309/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 56 and 64 together.

I have no function in setting pricing for phone services. The regulation of telecommunications operators, including pricing for mobile services, is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and regulations made under the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

48 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has received any further communications from ComReg which indicate any breach in health or safety standards arising from the use of hand held mobile telephones or communications masts, with particular reference to non-ionising radiation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8351/05]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. N. Dempsey)

In June of 2003 my Department instigated an extensive communications site survey programme to measure non-ionising radiation from telecommunications mast sites, which was carried out by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, during 2003 and 2004. The total number of sites surveyed was 401. Not one of these sites was found to be in breach of international guidelines. Details of the results of this survey are available at the ComReg website, www.comreg.ie.

Question No. 49 answered with QuestionNo. 13.