Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I am reluctant to agree with the Deputy that there is a digital divide in the way he portrays it. The reason we have a statutory body charged with management of this process is that it has the technical and professional capacity to assess it. It is a very complex issue. I think the Deputy understands the point I have made, that there is no precedent in which there has been 100% coverage. However, because of competition in the marketplace, there will, in effect, be universal coverage. The Government's policy approach to the spectrum to be awarded by auction is primarily that it offers us the capacity to enhance mobile and especially broadband services. That is the main policy objective. Second, it will realise a not insignificant income for the State which may be seen by the Deputy as incidental to the policy objective, but it is important.

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