Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Where we are not getting sufficient service I have no problem in deploring that and in encouraging the companies involved. I will have no problem in regulating as much as possible to ensure that the companies involved begin to provide services. In the case of Wicklow if that is the level of exchange that has been enabled, then it is an issue of real concern. The response to that is how we deliver it. There are various way of delivering service, one of which is through competition. Where a company does not provide a viable product in that area, if we could ensure there is a competitor who would get a competitive advantage it would give a real impetus to the existing companies to ensure they provide it.

In other words if a cable operator in Bray or Wicklow could start meeting some of the slack demand or a mobile operator could take on the business that undoubtedly exists there, it would put pressure on companies where there are gaps in availability to ensure it is provided. It is not just basic availability. We need to consider higher speeds and cheaper prices. We need to move on from the level of coverage and the statistics in terms of the number of houses that have it to the quality of the service.

In general we have a difficulty relating to two very different geographical circumstances. In urban areas it would be easier to achieve such competition because of the existence of cable and fixed lines — there is copper in the ground. The national broadband scheme exists to ensure we do not leave sections of the country behind and that we have universal accessibility. We then need to ensure the speeds are higher and the prices are lower. This is not just banging or hammering companies. Their long-term viability relies on such a universal high-quality and lower-price service being available. This represents the future for communications.

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