Sinn Féin spokesperson on Transport and Communication Martin Kenny TD has expressed his anger today at the actions of Eir in obstructing its customers from making complaints about services.

His comments come as the company was fined €7,500 in the District Court, after pleading guilty to 12 counts of breaching complaints regulations. 

Speaking today, Teachta Kenny said:

“This behaviour is just despicable. For Eir to deliberately employ a policy to prevent customers logging complaints is absolutely scandalous. 

“Today I have written to the Transport and Communications Committee, requesting Eir’s CEO and senior management to appear immediately before the committee to account for this behaviour and – most importantly – explain what is in place to prevent it ever happening again.

“This is a company who are responsible for providing and maintaining our main communications infrastructure for telephone and internet communication right across the country. It is vital we have trust in them, and that trust has been broken by this.

“Let me be clear – ordinary, hard working staff are not to blame here. They too were under threat of disciplinary action if they did not follow Eir’s instruction in misleading customers who wished to make complaints.

“While the work of ComReg in investigating this is to be commended, I am sure we can all agree that the fine of €7,500 imposed by the court was also exceptionally low for a multimillion euro company. 

“I am calling on the other members of the Transport and Communications Committee to support my request for Eir to explain themselves before the committee as a matter of urgency.”