Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the Bill from the Minister which will ensure the ESB will be able to set up its own communications network. There will be a legal basis to ensure the distribution of infrastructure to provide high speed broadband services in Ireland. Where have we been for the past ten or 12 years, when all of these promises were made and Ministers told us Ireland would be the gateway to the European communications sector? Unfortunately, we have had to pay through the nose for broadband services and been second to last in OECD ratings in the provision of broadband.

More than ten years ago in my home town of Boyle we were very anxious to receive broadband or more effective telecommunications services for the town. As other speakers have stated, the break-up of eircom certainly did not help. We were told no broadband service was available and in order to avail of the services of another operator, we sought funding from one of the Leader companies. Approximately ten or 12 businessmen, members of the community and politicians had to take modules twice a week for six months on how to draw down the funding. They were both extensive and difficult. Approximately two weeks before we were due to receive the funding, eircom announced that the broadband service exchange had been activated and would be enabled. That was a crazy process. When the electrification process was ongoing, the Government of the day felt private companies could not deliver the service because the private sector would pick and choose the services it would deliver, determining if there was something in it for them. That is why the public sector must become involved. I congratulate the Minister on his innovative thinking. This will certainly help smaller towns and rural areas. There are significant challenges and these areas are under severe pressure from the bigger population centres. They need every tool in the box to compete effectively, including online services, Internet banking, retailing and other services. Once again, the Minister is doing, instead of talking. Unfortunately, the last Government talked for too long.

This process is comparable to the provision of electricity. I do not think I am that old, but I remember many times going to houses as a young man and even as a teenager and finding that some in my area did not have electricity. Even if most had electricity, some did not have fridges. My house did not have a fridge until I was ten or 12 years old. That was the way it was and it is amazing how much we have moved on. It is incredible that in September 2013 there were more than 1.6 million broadband subscribers in Ireland. This is the way of the future and not just for businesses and entrepreneurs. These services are for citizens who demand the best possible connections, which should not be too costly. Unfortunately, some of the utility companies would have thought of a price and doubled it, thinking the Irish taxpayer would pay it. We will not do this any more.

I thank the Minister for bringing forward this innovative Bill.

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