Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept that, but they have come before the committee and it is hoped they will do so again. We will give them plenty of opportunities. The witnesses do not have the tools to impose fines. I ask them to bring forward recommendations to us, as well as to the Government.

My recollection is that ComReg's only connection with the parliamentary process is that it is reports to us on an annual basis, for which I thank its officials. I ask them to share with us as a committee what they believe to be the tools they require to make this company which, for historical reasons, has had a monopoly, comply with the regulations.

Like others, I could go through a list of people who have been in contact with me. The issue is not just a failure to respond or the length of time people have to waste on the phone. There are also other concerns. I am dealing with the case of a woman in Cratloe, County Clare, who has had the most appalling experience with Eir. Her husband suffered a massive stroke, but because he is the owner of the phone, she is still receiving threats of legal action regarding the payment of a bill despite having provided documentation to the company. That is just one example. There are more and more coming out of the woodwork since our last meeting.

Eir has decided for what I presume are commercial reasons to allow customer care to do what it does but not have any impact on it, and ComReg it does not have the power to deal with that. We need to bring this to a head pretty quickly. I welcome the witnesses bringing forward what they believe can assist them in righting the situation.