James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

According to a report published today by the pro-competition body, ECTA, Ireland is still the broadband poor relation to Europe's knowledge economies, namely, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland. ECTA has called for stronger powers for regulators to implement competition rules as it publishes the findings of its bi-annual survey on broadband take-up and competitiveness in Europe. The survey reveals that there is a serious threat to the primary source of competition, local loop unbundling, as incumbents seek a freeze on unbundling next generation fibre access lines, which could result in incumbent operators controlling a staggering 80% of broadband lines across Europe or close to 100% in many countries.

In a direct indictment of the Government, the report places Ireland 12th out of 15 European countries in terms of broadband connection ahead only of Italy, Portugal and Greece. In my area of Longford-Westmeath, I am a case in point when it comes to the lack of broadband roll-out in rural Ireland. I have made numerous attempts to have broadband installed in my home to no avail. I am keenly aware of the fact that rural areas are suffering economic setbacks in terms of foreign investment and the retention and expansion of home-grown industries and businesses due to lack of high-speed broadband. Taking myself as an example, conducting my Dáil and constituency business is dependent on the availability of high-speed broadband. Perhaps it is a Government conspiracy to curtail my political activities. The fact that my constituency's Fianna Fáil representatives voted last October to re-allocate funds for broadband roll-out could give this credence.

The bottom line is that, in 2008, I have no broadband access, which is commonplace across the whole of my constituency. I receive daily representations from people in similar situations asking what the Government is doing and why there is still no broadband roll-out in their areas. It is a significant blow to rural communities where the issue concerns sustainable living.

Our prospects for increased economic development are not looking good. According to Fintan O'Toole in The Irish Times:

We have, in this country, a great talent for fiction. So great, indeed, that it cannot be confined to the realms of James Joyce, Kate O'Brien and John McGahern. Our fictions are too important to be left to the novelists, so they burst through into public policy. The finest example of this creative flair is in the story we are telling ourselves about where we go after the Celtic Tiger. We're moving towards "a vibrant, knowledge-based economy".

I would like the Government to explain why it has let down the people so badly on the roll-out of broadband.

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