Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the State should attempt to regain control of the Eircom network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14800/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the time has come to divest Eircom of its ownership of the network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14801/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together.

The regulation of telecommunications operators, including Eircom, is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and regulations made under the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications. It would not be within the power of the Government to divest Eircom of its ownership of the network.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the control of the telephone network by Eircom is impacting negatively on other telecoms operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14802/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of telecommunications operators is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and regulations made under the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications. I have no function in the matter.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to open up the mobile phone market to a fourth or fifth operator; the reason he believes that despite the presence of some competition in the market, prices have not yet reached the levels enjoyed by other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14803/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I have no function in the regulation of prices for phone services or the number of likely participants in the provision of mobile phone services in the future. The regulation of telecommunications operators is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and regulations made under the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications.

As Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I have responsibility for overall telecoms policy. My main goal in this policy is to create conditions for sustainable growth and competition that will benefit the economic and social development of Ireland and facilitate the provision of competitive services.

I have no information to indicate that Irish mobile charges are generally the highest in Europe. However, ComReg's quarterly key data for the Irish communications market for Q4 2004 indicate that the Irish mobile operators' average revenue per user is the second highest in Europe. Switzerland has the highest.

The Deputy will be aware that in February 2005 ComReg designated Vodafone and O2 as having joint dominance in the wholesale mobile access and call origination market. Following on from this, in March of this year, ComReg placed an obligation on Vodafone and O2 requiring it to provide access to other companies on its networks.

Vodafone, O2 and Meteor have notified me that they wish to appeal to an appeal panel ComReg's finding of joint dominance and the resulting obligations imposed by ComReg on Vodafone and O2 to give other operators access to their networks. My officials are currently examining these notifications of appeal.