Mobile phone service blasted by Labour TD

One of three mobile phone companies recently criticised by a Labour TD has agreed to meet with community representatives in Clare to discuss coverage issues.

In October, Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara called for the country’s mobile phone operators to be brought before an Oireachtas committee to answer questions about their level of coverage. Mr McNamara said claims by the three mobile phone licence holders that they provide “99% coverage” is leading customers to think 99% of the country has coverage.

He said he has been inundated with complaints from the public about their lack of mobile phone coverage or decline in service during the past six months.

On Wednesday, however, representatives from Vodafone met with Mr McNamara in Leinster House and committed to meeting community representatives in Co Clare. “I would like to thank Vodafone for agreeing to meet with me to discuss mobile phone coverage. The issue is not an issue exclusive to one company. In fact, all three service providers in Ireland have come in for criticism,” he said.

“There are currently three licence carriers in Ireland — Vodafone Ireland Ltd, Three Ireland (Hutchison) Ltd, and Meteor Mobile Communications — claiming that 99% of Ireland’s population has mobile phone coverage. However, the quality of that coverage leaves a lot to be desired,” said Mr McNamara.

“Following our meeting, Vodafone have now agreed to meet with community representatives in Whitegate and Feakle to discuss the serious lack of mobile phone coverage in these two areas. The company has also agreed to hold a public meeting in Quin to discuss the separate issue of 4G broadband.”

Mr McNamara has already called for the Oireachtas Communications Committee and ComReg to look into the licensing of mobile companies and the extent to which their claims, as well as their licensing obligations are monitored and verified.