Mobile Telephony Use

Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016

Friday, 16 September 2016

Ceisteanna (1695)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

1695. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by the European Commission, upon the abolition of roaming charges across the European Union in 2017, to allow for free roaming only for a consecutive period of 30 days and for no more than 90 days in a year; his views on whether, given citizens have the free right of movement, this should not be impeded by unnecessary costs such as roaming charges; his further views on whether the implementation of these conditions would amount to the indirect retention of roaming charges; if he will raise this issue with his counterparts from other EU Member States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25829/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

In 2015, the European Council and Parliament adopted Regulation 2015/2120, which requires retail roaming surcharges to be abolished in the European Union from June 2017, subject to fair usage.  The concept of fair usage was introduced to prevent so-called “permanent roaming”, i.e. living in one EU Member State and permanently using a mobile phone and data service from another.

Ireland played an active part in negotiating the Regulation and fully supports the implementation of the principle of “Roam like at Home”.  

Under the Regulation the European Commission was tasked with reviewing the wholesale roaming markets and making appropriate proposals to enable the abolition of retail roaming surcharges. The European Commission published its draft proposals on what fair usage means earlier this month, which included capping usage at 30 consecutive days and 90 days total per year. However, these proposals have now been withdrawn by the Commission, and we await further proposals.

Ireland is in favour of an economically sustainable solution which abolishes roaming charges for EU citizens travelling from one Member State to another. Officials in my Department are actively engaged in pursuing a favourable outcome at EU level and we await the forthcoming proposals with interest.