Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

That is important, because this is a competitive market and a strong regulatory system can provide for the Irish people.

Things change quickly in this area and an important development in the past year is the local loop unbundling, where one opens exchanges to allow competing companies access to the network to provide services. The competing companies can buy the services on a wholesale basis. Local loop unbundling has been one of the best drivers in terms of the delivery of wider access broadband at faster speeds and cheaper prices. It was delayed in Ireland and we had difficulties in getting the right regulatory system in place. Last May I welcomed that the industry, the incumbent provider and the regulator could address this with a greater sense of urgency and possibility. In September they agreed a new local loop unbundling package that provides real opportunities for the incumbent and the competitors.

This market has opportunities for everyone. I can think of no other business where the levels of growth are increasing so dramatically. It is not a case of setting one company against another but believing that there remain opportunities for every company to have a successful business plan because the speed of the development of this digital economy is such that it provides for wholesale and retail operators——

See this speech in context