Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

The Minister of State should expand on the Department's preferred options now that an opportunity appears to have arisen for someone to take over or buy Eircom. Does the Minister of State agree there are implications for the consumer? For example, is it likely that the provision of broadband facilities will continue at a slow pace or will there be a low investment level in infrastructure? Will the Minister of State comment on the opinion expressed by a number of economists that the State should have control of certain vital elements of the telecommunications infrastructure? Has this been given any consideration or is it likely to happen? Must we wait to determine what will occur in respect of who owns Eircom?

Let us assume a company other than Babcock & Brown decides to take over Eircom without a plan. For example, Babcock & Brown has proposed the separation of two elements of the service provision, which would leave one part under the control of one company and the other part under the control of another group without having common board members. Would it be possible for the State to examine what is about to happen and determine whether there are implications for the future so it could become involved?

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