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

I thank the Minister for his reply. I appreciate that he has referred my queries to ComReg, but I would appreciate it if he would ask ComReg to take a particular interest in the Cavan-Monaghan area. The Minister of State, Deputy McHugh, agreed with me here a few weeks ago that, as he travels along the N2 or N3 back to the north-west, the coverage is appalling. If one is on the phone for a minute or two the call drops. It is a constant source of concern, as well as placing an additional cost on the consumer.

The Minister referred to co-operation with the planning authorities in regard to infrastructure that might be put in place by mobile phone companies. Those companies have a lot to learn about the co-location of transmission infrastructure, however. It is essential that the people who pay a heavy price for using mobile phones should have an adequate and appropriate standard of coverage.

In 2014, we were promised that roaming mobile phone charges would be abolished. Sadly, however, EU communications Ministers gave in to the international telephone companies and deferred the abolition of mobile phone roaming charges, which is to be reconsidered in 2018. It was an appalling decision and a total imposition on the consumer. Once again, the international mobile phone corporations got their way at the expense of EU consumers, including Irish ones.

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