Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Of course I agree with Deputy Tom Fleming that every part of the country should have adequate connectivity. I am not sure the facts and figures bear out the notion that those in Kerry are especially disadvantaged. I know all Kerry men are very good at communicating that view, especially on the third Sunday in September, but I do not think it is necessarily true. The point he is raising relates to a particular event, the Irish Open. As a result there was extraordinary pressure on the system with the world's media in attendance. In those circumstances, the sponsor or the organiser ought to have arranged that booster resources were available because such an event would stretch any system.

I do not know if the Deputy saw the remarks of President Bill Clinton who said at Dublin Castle that our broadband is better than the broadband in the United States in many parts of the country, which is true. That is not to say it is adequate. I acknowledge that given topography and so on, there are difficulties in counties such as Kerry. That is especially true at a time when there is the great pressure, as there was during the Irish Open. I acknowledge that is a problem.

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