James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That spectrum is needed and it is a welcome development. I am proposing an independent audit. It is what is needed to give that objective view of where coverage is needed and where it suffers at present. We are projecting up to 85% by 2017-18 in terms of the four current primary mobile operators but we are not there yet. That still leaves parts of the country unserviced.

I am hearing all the right things. The measures being proposed are very needed and welcome but we have not seen them in action yet. I understand the Minister said that certain actions are already being implemented. They need to be brought forward. The Government, as a whole, has shown a disregard for rural Ireland. The Minister is from rural Ireland so perhaps it does not apply in this case but it certainly applies to the rest of Cabinet. The Government needs to address the issues of rural Ireland immediately as a priority, including mobile phone coverage.

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