Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that he has taken all the necessary steps to ensure cost effective and efficient mobile telephone services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28064/05]

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that the quality of the mobile telephone services here are on par with the quality elsewhere throughout Europe; his plans for improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28071/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if Ireland is still at the top of the European league regarding costs in respect of mobile telephone services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28031/05]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which competition has contributed to date to mobile telephone costs to subscribers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28072/05]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if service providers here are keeping pace with mobile telephone service providers throughout Europe in respect of both quality of service and cost to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28070/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which mobile telephone costs have been reduced; the consequent benefit to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28069/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which market share in respect of mobile telephone service providers has altered to the benefit of the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28066/05]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Ireland's position in the European league in terms of the cost of mobile telephone usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28073/05]

Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if measures will be brought forward to regulate mobile phone termination costs; his views on current mobile pricing rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27877/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Ireland's position in the European league in terms of the cost of mobile telephone usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28106/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which competition has contributed to date to mobile telephone costs to subscribers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28107/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that the quality of the mobile telephone services here are on par with the quality elsewhere throughout Europe; his plans for improvement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28108/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if service providers here are keeping pace with mobile telephone service providers throughout Europe in respect of both quality of service and cost to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28109/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which mobile telephone costs have been reduced; the consequent benefit to the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28110/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which market share in respect of mobile telephone service providers has altered to the benefit of the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28113/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that he has taken all the necessary steps to ensure cost effective and efficient mobile telephone services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28115/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if Ireland is still at the top of the European league regarding costs in respect of mobile telephone services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28140/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 98, 107, 115, 129, 144, 155, 161, 168, 234 to 238, inclusive, 241, 243 and 267 together.

I have no function in the regulating of pricing for phone services, mobile phone termination costs, cost effectiveness and efficiency of mobile telephone services, market share, quality of service or competition in the mobile market. The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulating of pricing for phone services, mobile phone termination costs, quality of service and competition in the mobile market 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. The provision of telecommunications services is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg.

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 competitive services. It is my belief that improving the market conditions to enhance competition is the best way to drive down mobile phone charges to the end user. The more competitive telecoms services that are on offer, the better in the long run for consumers, the sector and the economy.

In March 2004 my predecessor issued policy directions to ComReg, including a direction on competition. The direction on competition mandates ComReg to focus on competition as a key objective, with a particular focus on competition in the fixed and mobile markets and to implement, where necessary, remedies which counteract or remove barriers to entry and support entry by new players to the market and entry into new sectors by existing players. ComReg has, as one of its key objectives, under the Communications Regulation Act 2002, the promotion of competition in the exercise of its functions. Competition in the fixed and mobile markets will drive down prices for consumers.

I have no information to say that Irish mobile charges are generally the highest in Europe. However, ComReg's quarterly key data for the Irish communications market for the second quarter of 2005 indicates that the Irish mobile operators' average revenue per user is the second highest in Europe; Switzerland has the highest.

The high penetration rate of 94% for mobile phones, representing 3.83 million subscribers, and the recent rollout of 3G services in addition to the existing mobile phones demonstrates that there is a wide range of choice for Irish businesses and citizens.