Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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141. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to seek agreement during the EU presidency to expedite the abolition of roaming charges here and in Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19548/13]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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EU Regulation No. 531/2012 of the European Parliament and the Council of 13 June 2012 on roaming on public mobile communications networks within the Union regulates the maximum retail charges which can be imposed for mobile roaming services in the EU. It is the third in a series of such Regulations, each of which has reduced the maximum permitted roaming charges.

The current EU Regulation, which commenced on 1 July 2012, imposes further reductions to retail roaming charges to be implemented by 1 July 2013 and a further reduction required by I July 2014. The Regulation also provides for a review of its effectiveness, including a review of the availability of offers providing a single tariff for national and roaming services, to be undertaken by the EU Commission and a report to be submitted to the European Parliament and Council by 30 June 2016. It is within this timeframe that any additional steps to further reduce the maximum permitted retail roaming charges will be considered.

While roaming is not part of the list of new legislative and non-legislative files being dealt with by the Irish Presidency, there is a clear EU timetable for reducing the maximum permitted roaming rates, which will include further reductions from 1 July 2013. The review mechanism is also designed to ensure that the impact of these measures is closely monitored and that new measures can be introduced if necessary.