Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason a company (details supplied) which was fined in the UK in 2005 for facilitating the sending of unwanted reverse charged premium rate text messages is allowed to do so here. [43336/06]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) is operating a premium rate mobile phone line that targets customers of another company offering alleged cash and credit prizes and which customers' credit is taken from them simply by receiving the unsolicited text messages. [43337/06]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) is operating reversed charged premium rate text competitions here for which it was fined by the UK regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43339/06]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the legal status of Regtel, the independent regulator of the Irish telecom sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43341/06]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is a means whereby mobile phone customers can be compensated for unsolicited reverse charge premium rate text messages. [43343/06]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 261: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action that can be taken by persons or the State against mobile phone operators who are in breach of EU Directive on Privacy and Electronics Communications 2003 in relation to unsolicited text messages from commercial companies. [43344/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 261, inclusive, together.

I would advise the Deputy that I do not have any function or responsibility in relation to regulating the activities of mobile phone service providers. Furthermore, I have no function or responsibility in respect of the charges imposed by such service providers. Nor have I any function or responsibility in regard to the operation of Regtel which I understand is a private limited company.

Similarly, I do not have any responsibility in relation to the enforcement of the EC (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 2003. These regulations were made by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Where I do have Ministerial responsibility is in relation to consumer law but the Deputy's question does not contain enough detail to allow me to form a judgment as to whether or not any breach of existing consumer law might arise in relation to these matters. I have, however, brought the substance of the Deputy's questions to the attention of the Director of Consumer Affairs. If the Deputy believes that a breach of consumer law arises, I would urge him to communicate with the Director and to provide her with as much information as possible in order to allow a judgment to be made in that respect.