Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the officials from the Department and the representatives of ComReg for coming before the committee to inform us. We have an important political role in this, and that is an issue the committee must revisit after this discussion.

I thank the officials because I feel a bit more reassured now that I know they are fully focused on this issue. This proposal could have an enormous impact on our national telecommunications infrastructure. If this discussion was about our electricity or road infrastructure, the gallery would be packed with members of the media. Unfortunately, this is not getting the attention it deserves. The digital market is seen as a sort of cyber-world that is out there somewhere. However, this proposal will have an enormous impact and it deserves the attention we are now giving it. It is important that we treat our telecommunications infrastructure as a national asset, as the officials from the Department and the representatives of ComReg clearly do. We have an obligation, politically, to increase our own awareness of this issue as well as that of our colleagues in the national Parliament and the European Parliament. This is a huge issue.

I am very uncomfortable with the idea of total harmonisation. I see a role for co-ordination of infrastructures and for co-operation between EU countries, under the Commission, to improve digital markets.

Does Ireland have a veto on the ultimate decision on this? Has that been considered by the Minister? Perhaps it is too early to answer that question. I know discussions are ongoing with other countries in terms of what is important for Ireland and determining the significant commonalities we have with other countries. That is an important part of this.

With regard to the timeframe, the proposal only appeared a month ago. I ask the witnesses to clarify when it is expected that the European Parliament will consider this. Does the Council of Ministers have to make a decision first? Regarding the media, I read a number of reports on this proposal over the summer. The carrot is there in the form of reduced roaming charges. That is a big carrot for the public to consume. However, there are a number of other side issues about which we must be very careful. I hope that the media and politicians can focus on this issue more closely now because this is very significant.

This is a national asset and I am certainly not one for handing away how we control it. If we were to do this to the road network, airspace or electricity infrastructure, there would be an outcry. I commend the officials on their focus.