Black Valley Case Going to Europe

[krayZpaving]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Labour, Kerry South) has announced that she will be bringing a case to the European Parliament's Petitions Committee over the Government's failure to provide adequate telephone service to the Black Valley in Kerry.
The valley, which has only recently been connected to the electrical network, has had intermittent telephone service and has never been properly connected to the phone network.

The appalling telephone service in the Black Valley was highlighted again recently when there were communications problems at the scene of an accident there. The residents of the Valley have put up with years of poor quality telephone service and in some cases no service at all, which is why I have now decided to pursue the matter at a European level.

This week I am submitting a petition on behalf of the residents to the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament asking that they consider whether the Government and eircom are meeting their obligations to provide all citizens with a telecommunications service. It is a lengthy process but the frustration and neglect of the residents demands intervention at a European level”

It is expected that the first hearing at the Petitions Committee will be taken before the General Election.

[Samarkand]

Well, being honest I don't know the first thing about this part of the country, but it sounds an interesting enough story and a shame no-one has posted on it yet. I realise there will be a number of "out of the way" locations but it seems ridiculous that, in this day and age, any area of Ireland can still be without a phone system.

As a matter of genuine interest and apologies for showing my ignorance, what exactly can the "Petitions Cttee" in Brussels do about this matter?

[FutureLabourLeader]

The fact that the problem in the Black Valley is continuing in downright scandalous. Communication is fundamental to modern life. Its a matter of life and death