Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when a telephone connection will proceed by Eircom for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [24205/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of a telephone connection in this case is a matter for Eircom as the designated universal service provider operating in a fully liberalised market. Eircom is subject to regulation under the EU electronic communications regulatory framework, by ComReg as the independent statutory authority with responsibility for the regulation of electronic communications services. I have no function in the matter.

The European Communities Electronic Communications Networks and Services — Universal Service and Users' Rights Regulations 2003, SI 308 of 2003, places an obligation on the designated universal service provider to ensure that a defined minimum set of services of specified quality are available to all, independently of their geographical location, at an affordable price. In accordance with this provision an operator designated to meet universal service obligations must meet all reasonable requests for connection to the fixed public telephone network. Given the above position I have forwarded the Deputy's query to ComReg for its attention and direct reply.