Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Brendan Smith is warning that mobile phone users in Ireland could see the return of roaming charges as a result of Britain’s decision to leave the EU.  He made the stark comments following a speech by the British Prime Minister where she indicated that mobile roaming charges and geo-blocking could be part of the post Brexit reality.

“Roaming charges had long been an issue for people living in border counties.  Many people who regularly travelled north and south were hit with high phone bills as a result of the excess charges and it took years of negotiations before the EU finally brokered a deal with telecoms companies to end these extraordinarily high tariffs”, explained Deputy Smith.

“Thanks to the tenacity of the EU, which was on the side of consumers, people living in the European Union can travel to other EU countries and not face additional call and data charges.

“This is a particularly important issue for people in Cavan and Monaghan as many people cross the border into Northern Ireland on a daily basis – for work, for education, medical appointments or to visit friends or family.  The reintroduction of roaming costs would be an extremely regressive step.

“I have called on the Communications Minister to engage immediately with the European Union and the British Government to ensure that specific measures are put in place to prevent the return of these  prohibitive costs”, concluded Deputy Brendan Smith.