Written answers

Thursday, 27 September 2007

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Mobile Telephony

5:00 pm

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans for the introduction of a restriction on the right to purchase pay as you go mobile phones over the counter, without requirement to register the number or a name or address, in view of their reported widespread use in drug dealing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20964/07]

Photo of Pat CareyPat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, I would obviously support any initiatives that would inhibit illicit drug dealing. The widespread use of mobile phones in drug dealing is common knowledge and the problem was reinforced to me in a recent meeting with representatives of the Garda National Drugs Unit. Furthermore, the Programme for Government contains a commitment that all mobile phones will require to be registered with name, address and proof of identity in order to stop drug pushers using untraceable, unregistered phones.

However, the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources in their analysis of the issue, identify a number of problems in achieving this objective. These include the ease with which a foreign or stolen SIM card can be used, the difficulties that would be posed in verifying identity and data protection issues arising from the development of a register.

I understand that the issue will be considered further by the relevant parties with a view to achieving an outcome that will be satisfactory to all involved.

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