Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It must be remembered that spreading industrial development across the country requires a highly developed infrastructure to be in place in all regions. However, this has not happened. One of the basic requirements for industrial development is the ready availability of sufficient electricity. If that does not happen, we will have problem. For example, 15 years after the discovery of the Corrib gas field, gas from the field is still not available on the national gas grid. Anyone looking at this from the outside, noting how long it has taken to do something regarded as simple elsewhere, would not be impressed. We need to have the best road and telecommunications networks in all regions. We cannot possibly cater for the level of industrial expansion required in the next 20 years unless that basic infrastructure is in place. The population at large needs to recognise this.