Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he expects mobile telephone charges here to be reduced in line with the costs elsewhere in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13820/06]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the way in which the quality, cost and service of the mobile telephone system here compares with those in other European countries; if he has in mind proposals to improve the situation from the consumer point of view; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13835/06]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the action he will take directly or through the regulator with a view to improving the quality of the mobile telephone service here with particular reference to signal quality and elimination of dropped calls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13817/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 81 and 87 together.

The Minister has no function in regulating pricing for services or quality of service in the telecommunications market. The provision of telecommunications services is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market.

The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulating of pricing and quality for mobile phone services is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and regulations which transpose the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications.

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 Q4 2005 indicate that the average revenue per user, ARPU, for Ireland is €47.60 per month, second only to Switzerland at €47.98 per month. The EU ARPU is €30.26 per month.