Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The widespread use of mobile phones in drug dealing is common knowledge and the issue was among those discussed when I recently met representatives of the Garda national drugs unit. As Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy, I support any initiatives that inhibit illicit drug dealing and welcome the commitment in the programme for Government that all mobile phones will be required to be registered with name, address and proof of identity in order to stop drug pushers using untraceable and unregistered phones.

I am advised that the proposal to establish a register of prepaid mobile phones requires careful consideration as many complex legal, technical, data protection and practical issues are involved. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has identified a number of problems in achieving this objective. These include the ease with which a foreign or stolen SIM card can be used, the difficulties that would be posed in verifying identity and data protection issues arising from the development of a register. I understand the issue will continue to be considered by the relevant parties with a view to achieving an outcome that will be satisfactory to all involved.

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