Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, has specific responsibility for this area. I do not know whether the Deputy has engaged with him on this matter, but I suggest he does so because he would get a definitive answer on what we are doing with regard to broadband.

For the purposes of addressing the issue of the potential of cloud computing, I realise certain businesses operating in certain geographical areas will face challenges and there is no question about this. We will spend €1.2 million on an initial research programme and a cloud computing technology centre. With regard to the potential of this area, we are looking at hitting global research targets and pitching Ireland's potential globally. The National Standards Authority of Ireland has adopted the SWiFT 10 guide and I would like to find out how many businesses are aware of this at present. If we can build consciousness about the potential of cloud computing in tandem with meeting the challenges with regard to broadband we will be doing well in terms of meeting global measurements.

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