Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

My Department has prepared a draft policy paper on next generation broadband, NGB. It is intended that the paper will be finalised shortly and published for consultation. The paper will review current communications infrastructure policy and propose actions to promote the roll-out of NGB policy. In this context, it will address the optimum role for the Government in the planning and roll-out of next generation broadband.

In February 2008 I convened a meeting of the expert international advisory forum to examine the paper. The forum critiqued a draft of the NGB paper but its members supported the broad thrust of the document and have provided valuable feedback. They offered some additional recommendations and advice on the future trends of the telecommunications and ICT industries and proposed that certain suggestions be explored further. The draft paper is currently being updated to take account of the forum's contribution and to reflect interdepartmental consultation. This will be finished shortly and I intend to submit the paper to Government prior to publication. I am confident the published paper will set out a strong framework and accompanying actions to promote the roll-out of NGB. This will enable us to build on the excellent progress made recently in the roll-out of broadband generally.

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