Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has in mind proposals to encourage the abolition of all mobile telephone roaming charges in line with the wishes of the EU Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20698/06]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding EU measures to ban mobile roaming charges; when the legislation will be brought in; his views on whether this will lead to increased costs for mobile handsets as leading mobile operators have recently alleged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20619/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 95 together.

Since my appointment as Minister in this Department I have made the abolition of roaming charges on the island a priority. In addition I raised the issue at EU level at Council. The Taoiseach pursued the issue of roaming at the recent Spring council, following which the European Council emphasised the importance for competitiveness and ease of travel, of reducing roaming charges.

This is an issue that affects many people travelling throughout the EU and is a clear example of impediments to the single market negatively affecting the citizens and businesses. The roaming charges for voice calls, text messages and data are very significant and we would like to see them reduced or preferably eliminated.

We strongly welcome the announcement by Commissioner Viviane Reding of her draft proposals for a Regulation to tackle roaming, which will require approval by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. It is my understanding that the Commission expects to propose a Regulation on roaming to Parliament and Council before their summer break in August 2006. We look forward to working with her towards the implementation of the Regulation. I am particularly pleased that the Commission is taking action following my requests to Commissioner Reding.

In the all-island context, roaming is an issue that both this Government and the UK Government have highlighted in the context of enhancing North/South co-operation. Pending the introduction of a new EU Regulation, the implementation of revised prices for international roaming is primarily a matter for the mobile phone companies. I welcome recent announcements by Vodafone Ireland, O2 Ireland and 3Ireland to tackle roaming charges and I would hope that they would now address text messaging and data transfer.

These initiatives followed interventions with the operators by myself and my former Northern Ireland counterpart, Minister Angela Smith, as well as Ofcom and ComReg.

I have no function in the setting of the cost of handsets. This involves commercial decisions for the companies.