Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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28. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the contact he has had with Eircom regarding their plans to remove the functionality of the fixed sms system which supports house alarms, especially used by elderly persons. [40389/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The provision of telecommunications services, including fixed line SMS, occurs within a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, can intervene in the market to ensure universal public access to basic voice, fax and functional internet access services at fixed locations from at least one service provider. ComReg can also intervene in the market to ensure that specific services are accessible for people with disabilities.

The provision of other telecommunications services is undertaken on a commercial basis by competing service providers. A decision to introduce any new service or to withdraw any particular service, other than those regulated by ComReg, is a commercial decision for each service provider. I have no statutory role in the process.