John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I request a debate on the communications industry, in particular the recognition by the regulator, ComReg, that there is a "tacit understanding", which in anyone's language means a duopoly, for a pricing arrangement between Vodafone and O2. It has been my opinion for some time that the Irish mobile telephone business is something of an Irish take-away. In the first instance, Vodafone purchased Eircell in a paper transaction, knowing full well that the results Vodafone had to publish that year would indicate that the price of those shares would fall and they have not really recovered to date. However, Vodafone has made substantial profits and continues to take substantial amounts of money out of the Irish economy. It is unwilling and unhelpful and has blocked the regulator's attempt to provide an MVNO, which would allow companies to use existing carrier networks and purchase block amounts of air time at a discount rate and sell them on. This has happened consistently. It is wrong and should be regulated. The economy must provide good value in the mobile telephone market.