Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

That is what we are doing in the MANs programme. That is based on fibre optic because that is what we believe is necessary. Eircom has indicated that by the end of next year it will have achieved 90% coverage with DSL. We must focus more on quality as 512 bytes DSL is basic broadband and we should have at least one or two megabytes. Local loop unbundling is a matter for ComReg which knows the urgency of this and I do not want to interfere in its work. I agree with Deputy Broughan that it is urgent. Circumstances here are not the same as in Northern Ireland so we will not hold that type of competition, and instead we will provide MANs and the group broadband schemes. Alternatives are available, therefore, including open access fibre-optic cables, that will allow people, companies and competition come into the market. My concentration is on trying to increase the type of competition in the market that will have the most beneficial effect by providing a wider level of service at more competitive rates.

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