Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 299: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he expects an even spread of mobile telephone signal and service in all areas throughout the country having particular regard to the existing patchy nature of services in some areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20780/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he expects mobile telephone costs here to become the lowest in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20798/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if sufficient emphasis has been placed on the need to reduce mobile telecommunications costs here in line with other country's but also in order to set a new standard of economic and efficient delivery of services for the customer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20815/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to encourage competition in the telecommunications areas with particular reference to the need to meeting customer requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20816/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 336: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he or his Department has had discussions with service providers with a view to the abolition of call divert mobile phone charges; if he proposes to have discussions with the Regulator in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20822/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans to issue directions to the Regulator with the objective of establishing new grounds rules to being about full deregulation in the telecoms market with particular reference to the completion of local loop unbundling, with the objective of rapid provision of broadband, fixed line and mobile telecommunication services in all areas throughout the country, the encouragement of full competition and the delivery of the benefits accruing therefrom to the consumer; if he will set out prerequirements for investment and development in the information technology sector with precise targets and provision for regular reviews to ensure adequate progress; if he will use the opportunity provided by the sale of Eircom to set out a comprehensive programme to bring this country's telecommunications sector, up to the highest international standards; if he will set out a mission statement in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21052/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 299, 317, 331, 332, 336 and 360 together.

I have no function in regulating pricing, delivery or quality of services in the telecoms market. The provision of telecoms services is in the first instance an operational issue for the service providers concerned.

The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulatory issuessurrounding pricing, quality and delivery of servicesin the mobile phone market is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the Regulations which transpose the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications. Currently, I have no plans to issue ComReg with a policy direction.