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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Mobile phone coverage task force

Summary

Declan Breathnach pressed for action on poor mobile coverage and dropped calls along the Border corridor. The Taoiseach said the task force report would be published the next day and noted Brexit would affect roaming charges.

Page 47 of A Programme for a Partnership Government has a commitment to provide immediate solutions to the broadband and phone coverage deficit. I want to preface my question by saying that I am not talking about the roll-out of the national broadband plan, nor about Brexit. I am asking the Taoiseach and the Minister in charge of the mobile broadband task force what is happening to address the plague of dropping out of calls due to issues with mobile phone coverage. People in businesses and living along the Border corridor are continually disadvantaged and discommoded by dropping out of calls. It is not just along the Border but also along the Irish Sea, especially in the Louth-Meath area, due to connectivity with the Isle of Man, and the ease of roaming in and out of those areas. What steps are being taken to ensure that, regardless of Brexit, an agreement is reached between the Irish and UK Governments that there will be no return to roaming charges and that the shared broadband services on this island will be shared for all in an all-Ireland economy?

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

Deputy Breathnach probably knows that the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, chairs the task force which was set up to improve mobile and broadband speeds and connectivity around the country. That was discussed at Cabinet this morning. The Minister of State should be in a position tomorrow to publish the report of the mobile phone task force, which will detail some of the actions taking place.

With regard to roaming charges, unfortunately, once the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, EU roaming charges will no longer apply.

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