Sir, - I read John Waters's recent tale of Telecom Eireann woes with not so fond memories. I thought that by now Ireland would have a telephone system that would allow a consumer to simply order a line and expect service within a few days. Here, in Canada, when I move house, I expect and obtain an almost immediate hook up to this most basic service.
When I last moved, my phone supply in the house I departed was cut off shortly after 9 a.m. (as arranged) and was live in my new home at about 9.30 a.m. the same day, courtesy of Bell Canada.
I was also perturbed to read that poor Mr Waters had to feed the payphone with a supply of coins during his efforts to maintain phone contact, whilst seeking aid from Telecom Eireann. Surely, by now, the Irish phone company has ended the extortionist practice of billing local phone calls by the minute?
If Ireland wants to attract North American investment, it will have to consider seriously whether profits of £112m (in a country with a population under four million, not including the six counties) are justifiable for the telephone company, when consumers (and businesses) are left stranded.
The most distressing information in Mr Waters's account was the notion that Telecom Eireann actually imagined that it was offering good service, if they fulfilled their pledge to install, telephone service within 15 working days of a request! Get real. Yours, etc.,
Nepean, Ontario.