Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, the independent regulator.

One of my key priorities is to increase competition through the provision of broadband infrastructure so that consumers and businesses can benefit from better quality, competitive prices and increased choice. Broadband prices have fallen consistently since 2003 and Ireland now ranks among the most price competitive in Europe with the third cheapest entry level ADSL for broadband in the EU-15 according to ComReg figures as at the end of June 2006. A combination of competition and regulation is driving prices down, for example, DSL prices fell by approximately 25% during 2005.

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