Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The questions relate to the OECD report on regulatory reform. In response to Deputy Ó Caoláin, there has been a large expansion in broadband usage and more competition in the sector. There has also been a big reduction in the cost of using broadband. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in recent months produced a further paper setting out how he envisages the sector developing in the future, how we can meet the competitive challenge we have set ourselves in terms of trying to devise a knowledge economy and where broadband fits into that in the context of the information and communications technology sector. There has been a great deal of effort in that area. If the suggestion is that rather than having that type of environment we should have a State environment where it would be publicly provided, I doubt that we would have reached the current level of usage given the capital intensive nature of that type of investment. The market and competition in the market have helped to drive down costs and spread usage. Obviously, there is more to be done in that area.

With regard to Deputy Burton's question, we are working with our EU colleagues on improving regulation generally in the financial services area as a result of what has arisen. There are continuing challenges and these are being monitored and evaluated both nationally and at a European level as far as Ireland is concerned.

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