Mr. Jeremy Godfrey:

I thank Deputy Bruton for his acknowledgement of the shift we put in on behalf of the consumer. Certainly last year there were some significant problems with customer care in the telecoms sector. We had said that the experience consumers were having was unacceptable. I agree with Ms Isolde Goggin that this particular Bill is not relevant to the consumer protection issue. In principle, ComReg enforces the various obligations of operators with regard to consumer protection. The same principle of enforcement of obligations needs to be backed up by administrative fining powers and by effective sanctioning and investigation powers. We have advocated for those for some time. We are in discussion, as Mr. Blaney has said, with our own Department about them. That is what will make a difference to protection issues in the telecoms sector, and more generally in the economy.

Reference was made to potential abuses by data intensive companies. I draw the committee's attention to the digital markets Act that is being discussed in Brussels at the moment. This is a proposal to introduce an ex anteregulation for the major platforms. That will be a vehicle for addressing some of the concerns raised by the Deputy.