In view of the disastrous decision by European Union Communications Ministers to defer abolition of mobile phone roaming charges, will the Government pursue urgently at European Council level implementation of the decision to abolish roaming charges this year? It has been deferred until an assessment is carried out in 2018. Mobile phone roaming charges are a huge issue in the counties I represent in the Border region, both for people in going about their daily activities and for businesses which depend on the mobile network. That European Union's decision has put the needs of major international mobile phone companies ahead of the interest of consumers.

I will ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to address that issue in the context of the European meetings he is attending. It is a very important issue.