Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the recent EU Communications Ministers meeting on mobile phone roaming charges; the Irish Government's policy in this regard; when EU-wide action will be taken against roaming charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43671/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I attended the EU Ministerial Council on Monday 11 December 2006. Roaming charges were on the agenda. At the meeting I strongly supported the Commission proposals to protect mobile phone users from excessive roaming charges.

The issue of high roaming charges is one that I take very seriously and one that I raised at my first Telecoms Council meeting when I took over this brief. I have repeatedly made my position on this issue known to the telecommunications sector in Ireland and I have called for action by them to reduce costs to the consumer in this area. Earlier this year I was very encouraged when operators in Ireland introduced tariff initiatives to address the issue of Northern Ireland roaming following a direct call from me to do so. I will continue to work to get movement at a European level on this issue.

The Commission's draft regulation is currently being negotiated in the Council Working Group and debated in the European Parliament. I hope that agreement on the proposed Regulation will be reached in 2007.