Mr. Kevin O'Brien:

Our powers are quite limited. In general, where a company has significant market power, we are entitled to intervene. However, if significant market power, which is a competition law test, is not proven then we are not entitled to intervene. There are some aspects of the Irish framework that allow operators to seek access from each other and to interconnect with each other. If operators are blocking each other in that regard - even non-significant market power operators - we do have a refereeing role to play. Primarily, however, we are only allowed to intervene in situations of economic dominance by one party.
I wish to deal now with points made by Deputies Fleming and Griffin. I agree with Deputy Griffin's point about topography being very important and the more we understand about what that means for the networks, the better. Both Deputies referred to broadband costs and speeds and transparency for consumers in that regard. This is an area in which ComReg has always been very active. We have a website, www.callcosts.ie, where consumers can input their own spending profile and then find out the full range of packages that are available to them and which offer the best value in their area. We have been working over the past year on broadband speeds. We have run a number of tests with samples of users and are planning to use a survey company in the coming months to sample 1,000 users with regard to their broadband speed experience. We hope to build on that work and bring more information and transparency to consumers on the broadband speed experience. We see that as core to our activity and will continue to work on it.