Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I thank Deputy Coveney for his kind words and I look forward to working with him and other Members opposite in my time in this Ministry. I hope it will lead to a beneficial exercise in policy regulation for all the people of this country.

The Deputy made the assertion that we do not have shared use but my understanding is that we do. It may well be facilitated further by the sale of the Eircom mast network. I understand some 60% of the mast network is shared at present and that figure is increasing. Those areas where it is not on the increase are mainly rural locations where there may be competitive issues concerning access but, on the whole, sharing of masts is occurring. There are regulatory powers and I encourage ComReg to use them wherever possible.

The Deputy is correct to say it is crucial we not only have access to masts but good coverage. ComReg is fully empowered to enforce licensing agreements by which mobile telephone companies must abide to ensure good coverage. If there are black spots which are in breach of the licensing conditions, ComReg has the power to act.

I agree with the Deputy that the policy we want to follow is one that brings about shared and more open access, both in respect of fixed line and mobile networks. Another step in the right direction is that, after a significant delay, we are now seeing a mobile virtual network operator, in the shape of Tesco working in conjunction with O2. Tesco operates on the O2 network to provide a separate retail service to customers. I take the Deputy's point on the need to generate open access and that is occurring in terms of the masts and the network.

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