Seanad debates

Thursday, 16 June 2016

10:30 am

Photo of Ned O'SullivanNed O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was a slow starter but I got there. I came to understand the deficiencies of our mobile phone system very well, as I am sure did many others. I am not talking about broadband or Wi-Fi but basic mobile phone coverage, which is very important. Invariably, I found that one particular network worked but another did not. The State obviously issues licences to mobile service providers and it is time to invite the Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources to the House to discuss mobile phone coverage and mobile services in general. One will invariably find on the new motorways that one will not get a service. I do not use the phone when I am driving but would pull in and use it now and again. On most of the new roadways, however, one can forget about doing so.

I would also like to say something about customer service by the mobile network providers. If one happens to have the misfortune of going into a mobile phone shop, one will generally be obliged to queue for service. I was in one such shop the other day and there were several elderly people present but there were no chairs for them to sit on, despite the fact that the queues were lengthy. There are lots of other issues I could raise but it is a bit late in the day to do so. I ask the Leader to accommodate a debate on mobile phone services at his earliest convenience.

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