Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Eircom is a private company and, as I indicated earlier, I do not have the statutory authority, as the Deputy is aware, to direct any commercial company, Eircom or otherwise, in any particular regard. However, I agree with him on the provision of quality broadband service in towns and rural areas. Services have improved immensely in recent years due to the input of several commercial operators, including, in fairness, Eircom. Earlier, I detailed its investment in the system. I also agree with the Deputy that there are areas where the service is still short of what people are entitled to expect. I have no difficulty in communicating to Eircom what the Deputy raised in the House this afternoon.

I would not like anyone to have the impression, however, that the Government does not see the importance of broadband. It does. I am actively engaged in bringing forward the national broadband plan, which I regard as critical.

There are parts of the country where the commercial sector will never make money on broadband, which is why the State will have to intervene. That is the reason the State has a critical role in this vital infrastructure to which the Deputy referred. I agree with him that broadband provision is important for businesses, communities, families and in a whole host of different ways to which he alluded.

I will continue to regard the extension of broadband as an absolute priority for me, as a relatively new Minister, and the Department. I hope to work with the Deputy and other Deputies to advance this important project. I look forward to the support of colleagues across the House for the project. In the meantime, while I do not have any statutory role in respect of any of the individual providers, I will certainly undertake to communicate to Eircom the points the Deputy raised.

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