David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will commit his Department to a timeframe for the completion of negotiations with mobile phone operators on the subject of lowering costs of SMS messages for deaf and moderately deaf persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3569/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will commit his Department to a timeframe for the completion of negotiations with mobile phone operators on the subject of lowering costs of SMS messages for deaf and moderately deaf persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3941/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 279 together.

Discussions are ongoing between my officials and the mobile phone operators about the costs of SMS messages for deaf and moderately deaf persons. I also understand that the mobile operators are in discussions with the national associations representing deaf people on how products and services can be enhanced for deaf people. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the outcome of these discussions soon.