Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Reading the opening statements, there are some eye-opening issues, including the price comparisons for connections for fibre to the home and shortcomings in the so-called market. At the press conference at which the Minister announced he would allow Eir to cherry-pick 300,000 of the easiest to reach 840,000 premises and households, I argued the decision would throw petrol on the flames by allowing Eir not only to dominate but to control the market.

Mr. Lupton said Deputies Ryan and Dooley are aware of the passive infrastructure issues. I have a some knowledge of that issue as well because I have been raising it from the word "go". Simply put, there is a charge per pole for access and Eir has the market by the windpipe.

That is a simple fact. Unfortunately, allowing Eir to cherry-pick the 300,000 households has exacerbated the problem. Many of the issues being raised today confirm that.

The separation of Eir's wholesale and retail markets into sections is important, but is it viewed as something that has to happen? Mr. Barrins outlined ComReg's shortcomings, in that it needed greater civil powers and 70 more staff. He referred to the ongoing review of prices. When did it start and when is it expected to finish?