Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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242. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discussions he has had with the European Union Commission or with his counterpart in the British Government on the need to avoid mobile phone roaming charges following Britain's exit from the EU's digital single market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13337/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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EU Roam Like at Home took effect by way of EU Regulation on 15 June 2017 and is now in force EU-wide. Therefore until the UK leaves the European Union, this EU law has full effect in the UK, including Northern Ireland.

On the issue of Brexit, my Department engages on an ongoing basis with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with a view to informing Ireland’s approach to the ongoing EU-UK negotiations and the manner in which this is communicated to our EU partners. In parallel, my Department is also contributing to the very detailed work on a no-deal or worst-case-scenario, which is being advanced through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by the Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade. This work provides a baseline scenario for the policies and sectors impacted, which can then be adapted as appropriate in light of developments in the EU-UK negotiations.

In this regard, a transition period, extending to 31 December 2020 and based on the status quo, is currently the subject of negotiations between the EU and the UK within the context of the wider withdrawal process. Should this be agreed, EU Roam Like at Home will continue to apply until at least the end of the transition period. This period will provide time for businesses and citizens to prepare for the UK’s ultimate withdrawal from the EU based on the outcome of the negotiations on the framework for the EU’s future relationship with the UK.

In the immediate term, my Department will continue to focus on the risks and opportunities that may emerge as a result of Brexit and to develop appropriate strategies for these. We continue to monitor the situation closely and to liaise with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on planning for the potential effects of Brexit on the telecommunications sector, including with regard to roaming.