Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Commission for Communications Regulation Performance Review: Discussion

5:00 pm

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The reason I ask is that the Minister made it very clear on a number of occasions, in the House and elsewhere, that when this spectrum would be offered, it was his desire to focus on the spread of coverage across the land mass rather than on the financial gain to the State from the auction.

Mr. Fahy has indicated that the process was transparent so the question is whether there was any input from the Department or Minister in terms of setting criteria that would ensure that the land mass was covered. I am not trying to catch Mr. Fahy out or be awkward. Mr. Fahy has recognised the issues concerning the spread of coverage through the land mass. It is my view that on a small island, it should be possible to cover virtually every corner of the island. I do not want to hog the meeting but this is something ComReg needs to look at. I see some mobile phone companies advertising their service in very remote, scenic and beautiful rural areas where Mr. Fahy and I know full well there is no coverage. Has ComReg failed yet again in this auction to ensure or put stipulations on those that have one spectrum? Has ComReg let them slip through the net again in terms of providing that coverage?

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