Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on introducing legislation to incorporate Regtel into ComReg in order to properly regulate the content, promotion and pricing information for all premium rate telecom services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19492/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I have no plans to introduce legislation for the regulation of the content, promotion and pricing information of premium rate telecommunication services.

The Office of the Regulator of Premium Rate Telecoms Services (RegTel), which is a self-regulatory industry body, already exists to authorise and supervise the content and promotion of premium rate telecommunications services within the Irish market. Self-regulation by the industry is preferable to statutory intervention.

RegTel does not report to me as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 307: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will direct ComReg to investigate and establish precise and reliable statistics regarding the volumes and revenues of international telecom services by all mobile service providers operating here including all termination and roaming rates; if he will also direct ComReg to investigate allegations of collusion by mobile operators in terms of mobile pricing and rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19493/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I have no plans to direct ComReg to investigate and establish precise and reliable statistics regarding the volumes and revenues of international telecom services by all mobile service providers operating here including all termination and roaming rates.

Furthermore, I have no plans to direct ComReg to investigate allegations of collusion by mobile operators in terms of mobile pricing and rates.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will bring forward measures to implement a statutory basis for notice of withdrawal to ensure that all operators provide at least 30 days prior notice for the withdrawal of electronic communications services or electronic communications product to an end user; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19494/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Following the passage of the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007 through the Oireachtas, my predecessor wrote to ComReg requesting that it be made a condition of an authorisation that all operators granting wholesale access to other operators to their networks or products give a minimum period of notice to ComReg of intention to withdraw such access or products. This would enable ComReg to engage with the operators concerned in order to minimise disruption to consumers.

The current position is that ComReg will consult shortly on the possibility of amending the format of the telecommunications general authorisation to provide for notification mechanisms to ComReg and, where appropriate, to end users in the event of significant service disruption. The consultation will also address the possibility of mandating the preparation of suitable contingency plans by all authorised operators to address the risk of operator exit. The general authorisation is the set of standard conditions and rules that all providers of electronic communications networks and services must abide by if they operate in Ireland.