Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I concur with what Senator Boyhan has just talked about with regard to one-off planning. I raised the same issue last week in the House. It would be quite worthwhile having a debate about it. Some of the legislation that was being brought in recently had unintended consequences and is causing problems for people that should be entitled to planning heretofore.

The issue I will raise today has been brought to my attention by a number of constituents, that is, the dealing Vodafone and its call centres have with their clients. Some of the stories I have heard recently are shocking, to say the least. The contempt and disregard in the way Vodafone has dealt and is dealing with many of its customers beggars belief. I could not believe some of the stories, but for many of these people having facts and times to back up what they had told me. We have spent so much money on the roll-out of the national broadband plan and the biggest beneficiary of this in the country will probably be Vodafone. It will be able to just roll on to the money and all the infrastructure we have provided for it and likewise for other providers, but Vodafone will certainly be one of the biggest beneficiaries. I have serious concerns about how it is dealing with customers through its call centres, chatbots and whatever else. They seem to be very unfriendly to use. I witnessed somebody ringing Vodafone the other day. It was the third or fourth time the person made the same call and agreement, only for it not to be carried out reciprocally by Vodafone. I have serious concerns. This issue has been well documented. I think Vodafone has one of the worst records on customer care. When Vodafone is benefiting so much from the State and the roll-out of the infrastructure we are providing, it needs to be called to heel.