Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he directly or through the regulator applies policy tests to the provision of mobile telephone services; if he will outline the future direction of policy in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23420/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Telecommunications services, including mobile telephony services, are provided by various private sector companies operating in a liberalised open market under EU and national legislation. The authority of member states is generally limited to regulation and occasional investment intervention to address market failure.

Both my Department and the national regulatory authority, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) monitor market developments to ensure the main policy objective of fostering sustainable economic growth, competitiveness and innovation is met. Thereafter, permitted regulation, including spectrum management in the case of mobile telephony services, is vested in ComReg. ComReg is independent in the exercise of its regulatory functions.