Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 90, 131 and 139 together.

As Deputies are aware, considerable emphasis is being placed internationally on the development of next generation broadband, NGB, networks. This is a big issue for telecommunications policy in Ireland and I am determined that the approach we adopt will be the right one. To that end, my Department has prepared a draft policy paper on NGB networks. That paper has been critiqued by the international advisory forum, IAF, on NGB networks.

The following people participated on the international advisory forum on next generation broadband networks. Mr. H. Brian Thompson is the executive chairman of Global Telecom and Technology, a multi-network operator. He has previously served as chairman of both the advisory committee for telecommunications and, more recently, the advisory committee on infocoms, both established by my Department. He is also a member of the Taoiseach's Ireland-America Economic Advisory Board. Mr. Frank Sanda founded Japan Communications in 1996 and is chief executive officer of the company. Prior to this, he served as chief executive officer of Apple Computer Japan and as vice president and general manager at Motorola. Ms Isolde Goggin is a former chairperson and commissioner of the Commission for Communications Regulation. She now works as an independent telecommunications and regulatory affairs consultant. Ms Goggin is also a member of Ofcom's Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland. Mr. Kenneth Carter is a senior consultant at wik-Consult, based in Germany and is a member of the firm's NGN and Internet economics department. Mr. Carter was previously senior counsel for business and economics in the office of planning and policy analysis at the United States Federal Communications Commission. Mr. Tony Shortall is an economic adviser within the European Commission. He was a senior economist at the Irish Competition Authority between 1997 and 1999. Mr. Michael R. Nelson is currently visiting professor of Internet studies in Georgetown University's communication, culture and technology programme. Prior to this, Mr. Nelson was director of Internet technology and strategy at IBM. He has also served as director for technology policy at the United States Federal Communications Commission and as special assistant for information technology at the White House office of science and technology policy where he worked with Vice President Al Gore on telecommunications policy. Mr. Martin Cronin is the chief executive officer of Forfás. He is also a member of the National Competitiveness Council, the Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Higher Education Authority, the Management Board of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the board of the Tyndall National Institute.

As is evident from its membership, the forum brought together valuable insight and expertise into the development of Ireland's future broadband policy. The members brought a diverse range of knowledge and experience from around the world.

The draft policy paper is currently being updated to reflect the forum's contribution and will be published shortly for public consultation. The estimate of the cost of the International Advisory Forum on NGNs is €50,000. A breakdown of estimated costs is not yet available.

Within ComReg there in an internal NGN working group. ComReg also facilitates a separate, independently chaired NGN group, which comprises two sides, one addressing next generation access and the other addressing next generation network core issues.

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