John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader for a debate on the mobile phone market in this country. It is widely acknowledged, including by the regulator and the EU Commission, that Ireland is paying one of the highest average costs per user in Europe. The mobile telephone companies here are heading towards profits of €1 billion per year. It is accepted that where competition is in place the cost to the consumer reduces by approximately 25%. It is within our control to insist that these companies allow competition into the marketplace. We analyse the fine detail of other matters for very small amounts. Here is an opportunity to create employment and save the consumer huge amounts of money. It is time that the regulator was given teeth.