Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House. Fianna Fáil is totally opposed to the sale of any element of the ESB. I assume the Minister's colleagues in the Labour Party are also opposed to it.

The original Memorandum of Understanding did not refer to the sale of State assets to the tune of €2 billion, rather it asked for a review of State assets and possible privatisation of State owned assets. The revised Memorandum of Understanding negotiated in July by this Government states that the Government will consider options for an ambitious programme of asset disposal. The Government, when deciding to sell off the family silver, will not be able to hide behind the deal done by the previous Government as it is its revised Memorandum of Understanding that will bring about privatisation of the ESB and other strategic State assets.

An issue of concern to me, one which I raised earlier this year and last year, is that of e-billing, in particular the imminent Vodafone plan to bill all its customers via e-mail. The judgment by ComReg in regard to O2 states that an e-bill is permitted where positive consumer consent is obtained and that a paper bill is to be provided, "as standard where such consumer consent is not obtained". Those words are important. I am sure the Minister, like the Consumer Association of Ireland, will be concerned to hear what Vodafone plans to do. Vodafone has 43.6% of the Irish mobile telephone market. The Consumer Association of Ireland, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Money Advice and Budgetary Service and Fianna Fáil are concerned about this move towards e-billing, in particular on the basis that Vodafone has already sent out the following message: "From Your November Bill, Say Hello to Paperless Billing and a Better Environment". I am delighted Vodafone sponsored the Dublin team to the All-Ireland final this year. I am sure it is a big employer in the State but it is flying in the face of the laws of this country in that it has already stated that from Monday next it will inform approximately 170,000 of its customers that they, whether or not they like it or have Internet access, will in future receive their bills by e-mail. Also, a person wishing to have a paper bill must opt to have one, which is against the judgment made by ComReg in regard to O2 trying to do the same thing.

Vodafone has also intimated that the person requesting a paper bill will have to pay for it. People are already paying tariffs to Vodafone. I believe that a person who is paying a bill is entitled to receive it in whatever manner they require. The Minister in his statement mentioned the difficulties that An Post is experiencing in regard to remaining viable. I put it to the Minister that there are thousands around the country who do not have access to e-billing because as the Minister stated they do not have access to broadband. We have a long way to go in that regard. I am concerned that Vodafone, which is a mobile giant, is deciding, contrary to what the Department says, to go against ComReg's judgment against O2 that a paper bill is to be provided as standard. It should not be that a person must opt to receive a paper bill. One should not have to do that. I am interested to hear the Minister's views in this regard.

My concern about this is intensified because people are already trying very hard to manage their day-to-day household bills. The Minister is aware of that and has referred in that regard to increased energy prices and people's struggle to meet them. I believe this move by Vodafone will take from people their ability to budget properly for their day-to-day bills. Vodafone has approximately 400,000 clients, which is just short of half market share in this country. I want to know what the Department is doing about this. Has the Department had any contact with Vodafone on this issue or is it to be allowed to fly in the face of the laws of this State and a ruling by our communications regulator? We must put down a marker on this. O2 was allowed to get away with it.

If Vodafone gets away with this, other utility companies will follow in the same vein. Of course, we want companies to be more efficient and environmentally friendly but they cannot ignore the laws and regulations of this State. One cannot simply tell people who do not have access to the Internet that they will no longer be receiving paper bills and that if they request one they will be charged €2 for it.

I was pleased to hear Deputy Doyle, Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, raise this concern in the Dáil. I am sure the Minister will address this issue so as to ensure Vodafone is not allowed get away with this. ComReg exists for a reason. We have a regulator and laws for a reason and we cannot allow a massive mobile telephone company to act with complete impunity and against the interests of its customers.