Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the decision to allow me to raise this issue. I am glad the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, is here as he should have great empathy for consumers in the Border areas, which are once again the victim of bad decision making in Europe. It is extremely regrettable that EU Ministers have agreed to delay the abolition of mobile phone roaming charges from this year to at least 2018. The decision demonstrates a blatant disregard for consumers and prioritises large multinational mobile phone companies and their interests at the expense of the interests of customers throughout the 28 European Union member states.

We are all very well aware of the punitive charges associated with roaming calls. Those of us who live in the Border area, such as the Minister of State and me, know that when we go on a journey along the Border, we may at times be on our own networks of 3 or Vodafone but suddenly a British network can be used, leaving us with exorbitant charges for transacting business and making or receiving calls. Sometimes mobile phone roaming charges are associated with people going on holidays but this issue affects a large cohort of people in this country who live in the Border area or who have good reasons to travel North and South to transact business daily. All of us living in the Border area have at many times received exorbitant mobile phones bills as a result.

It is absolutely deplorable that the communications Ministers of the European Union agreed to defer a decision made in 2014 and which was to be implemented by December 2015. My understanding is there will be an "assessment" by mid 2018. This is kicking a can down the road; a decision was made a year ago but the issue is now to be assessed more than three years into the future. What proposals were put forward on behalf of the Irish people at the recent meeting when this decision was made? People are bitterly disappointed. There was a palaver when it was agreed to abolish roaming charges, as the indication was that costs would be reduced for consumers throughout the European Union. Naturally, we are concerned about our own country first. There has been little or no comment from the Government or the Minister about this deplorable decision, which was taken approximately a week ago.

I hope the Minister of State can convey through the Minister, Deputy White, to the relevant authorities in the European Commission and the relevant Commissioner that this is not acceptable. A decision was made a year ago but now we hear nonsense to the effect that it will take time for companies to adjust. I have never heard of a delay in implementing new or increased charges but there is always a delay if there is a need to reduce charges. This is typical of European Union bureaucracy, giving in to the interests of the large multinational companies. What was a very positive decision is now being reversed after 12 months and we are being told the issue will be assessed again three years from now. That is absolutely reprehensible behaviour and I hope our representatives are making this argument at ministerial and other levels to the European Commission and the relevant Commissioner.

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