Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Blaney for his presentation. I want Mr. Blaney to touch on the number of complaints. We had Eir before us in recent weeks. It is receiving tens of thousands of calls and ComReg is receiving a few thousand complaints. Is there some restriction on the number of calls ComReg can receive? Is it the case that the 1901 number does not get referred on to ComReg?

I refer to the prosecutions and substantial fines Mr. Blaney mentioned.

What are substantial fines? What scale of sanctions would the witnesses like to have available to them to hold these companies to account? I raised these issues with the Minister in a Topical Issue debate two weeks ago.

On the restricted constraints on ComReg, the Minister said that if there is any call from it for further powers the Government will respond straightaway. However, the witnesses have said they are in discussions with Government. What discussion have taken place? Have they had discussions with the current Minister or did they also have discussions with the previous Minister? What is the delay? If the Minister has said he will respond, where is the hold up? People are really frustrated with performance, in particular of Eir, as the witnesses will appreciate.