Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy will be aware from my statements on the subject since I became Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, that I am not satisfied with the state of play regarding broadband and neither is the Government. As far back as 2002, the Government stated it was not satisfied the private sector was providing sufficient broadband capability. This was the reason the Government issued a policy document which put in place the metropolitan area networks, the group broadband scheme and also the roll out of broadband service to all schools. I agree with the Deputy that we are not in the forefront in Europe. If the Government had not tackled the matter, we would be even further behind. I agree the existing legislation is not adequate. This the reason the Government is drafting the Bill to give co-competition powers to ComReg. This legislation will be brought before the House in the autumn. Both Deputies opposite indicated they would be supportive of this Bill which will give extra powers to the regulator.

One of the frustrations which is being voiced by the Deputy and which I have voiced is that in the past the attitude of the service providers has been very negative. They have tended to take the legal route and contest everything, thus slowing the process. I hope the combination of powers and a change of attitude from the incumbent will help to deal with some of the issues to which the Deputy referred, in particular the local loop unbundling and the number portability.

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