Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with other speakers on the urban rural divide in respect of the provision of broadband services. What is happening under the watch of ComReg is anti-rural. We are well aware it is a Third World service in many rural areas. It is discriminatory, anti-business and anti-education for the youth of rural areas. I find it hard to fathom some of the statements made at the committee today.

I am trying to comprehend a reply to a parliamentary question I received from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, which states that in early February, Eircom's greater flexibility in setting wholesale rates for bundle services offered to its competitors a telephone exchange where there is already active competition among service providers or exchanges where next generation access services are available. It also states that the retail price for basic fixed line telephone services alters, as a consequence of the decision, or remains at the standard price across the country in line with Eircom's universal service obligation. I believe this is a dereliction of duty by the regulator in regard to this matter. I am aware that only a limited number of exchanges have been provided with the upgraded service in rural areas and only for a distance of 5 km or 6 km on the main telephone wire. There are hundreds of thousands of people who are deprived of their rightful entitlement.

I find the response regarding the efforts being made to roll out next-generation broadband to the whole country difficult to comprehend. We are living in the real world and are well aware of the fact that our constituents are not getting the broadband service they are supposed to be getting. There are serious issues with regard to speed and the general quality of the broadband service. This is having a negative effect on those trying to maintain their livelihoods or to expand their businesses. It is having an impact on many people in rural Ireland, including farmers, for whom farming is a business that requires up-to-date technology. It is good that this committee is focusing on this issue and I hope that ComREG will accelerate the process of ensuring a balanced provision of broadband services.