Mr. Shane Campbell:

In brief, the question is how do we give someone in Swanlinbar the same opportunity as someone in Dublin. It is about giving them the tools and the opportunities. Broadband is critical in terms of how it can open up rural life. The delivery of the national broadband plan has to be key. We cannot afford to sit on it for another six years. Otherwise, Ireland will lose its place. It is the same North of the Border and the opportunities there for the delivery of those schemes. It is not too late to look at something between Northern Ireland and the Republic. If the national broadband plan cannot be delivered or advanced, a new solution must be found to give people opportunities because that is where the future is going. The 21st century has taken us into new areas of technology and creativity. There are things people can do on a small device and they need the means and opportunity to be able to deliver on that.

I advocate for a strategic support for the Border region but that must come from the Government. The committee could use its influence to help promote that agenda.

We are providing the local leadership that has to be a key part of the delivery, as Ms Arthurs has detailed. Organisations like NILGA and those represented by Mr. Aidan Campbell, Dr. Soares and myself constitute a consortium of cross-Border interests, local authorities and communities. We are all passionate about our areas. We want to do something for those areas. We are not asking the Government to do everything. We are asking the Government to help us by giving us a leg-up. We will certainly do our bit.