Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I have no plans to issue a policy direction to the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, on mobile termination charges.

The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulatory issues surrounding telephony charges, is the statutory responsibility of ComReg in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the regulations transposing the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services.

As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I have responsibility for overall telecoms policy. My main goal in this policy is to create conditions for sustainable growth and competition that will benefit the economic and social development of Ireland and facilitate competitive services.

It is my belief that improving the market conditions to enhance competition is the best way to drive down mobile telephone charges to the end user. The more competitive telecoms services that are on offer, the better in the long run for consumers, the sector and the economy.

The European Commission has signalled an intention to review mobile termination rates, MTRs, this year. Commissioner Reding has proposed to launch a public consultation, working with the European Regulators Group, ERG, on the harmonisation of MTRs within the EU for all calls. My Department and ComReg will be actively working with the EU Commission and ERG on this recommendation.

The EU Commission is also preparing a communication to the European Parliament and the Council on the review of the functioning of the roaming regulation and its possible extension to cover SMS and data roaming, which is due before the end of 2008. Commissioner Reding has given the mobile industry until 1 July 2008 to cut the price for sending a text message or surfing the web on a laptop when roaming in the EU. Commissioner Reding has raised the prospect of setting caps on text messages and international data services if her calls to cut costs are not answered.

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