Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1144. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the proposal to ban roaming mobile telephone charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38379/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the recent agreement of the European Parliament and the Council of an EU Regulation, which among other things, provides for the abolition of retail roaming charges within the EU from June 2017. This will make a strong statement to EU citizens about a single and unified EU where barriers to trade and travel are minimised. As an interim measure, the Regulation will further reduce the maximum permitted retail roaming charges from current levels. This means that from April 2016, roaming charges (exclusive of VAT) for voice calls will reduce from 19 cent to 5 cent per minute. Roaming charges for SMS or text messages will reduce from 6 cent to 2 cent and for data downloads from 20 cent to 5 cent per megabit. The Regulation contains an additional provision to further reduce wholesale roaming charges to ensure the abolition of retail roaming charges is financially sustainable from June 2017.

The Parliament completed its legislative procedures on Tuesday last, the 27th October when it adopted the Council's proposed text without amendment. The legislative process will be completed shortly when the legislative text is signed by the Presidents of the Parliament and Council and the text is published.