Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I did not get the opportunity before, but I wish the Minister luck in his position. He and I would have talked many a time about broadband because we know the speeds down our neck of the woods, but I was baffled yesterday when I heard that we are not going to own the infrastructure. I would have wished that we as a nation would own that for the betterment of all. This will be the biggest infrastructure project since the electrification of Ireland. We have to get it right. We owe it to the next generation to make sure we get it right. For the sake of the revival of rural Ireland, we have to get it right. Yesterday evening, I looked at the news and saw that someone made a comment about water and had to resign. It is a pity that there might not be as much focus put on broadband, for the simple reason that we need to make sure. Right across the divide, from the people I talk to, there is unanimous agreement that we need this infrastructure to be owned by the State. Let us put it up, because this is a licence to print money. Private companies are interested in this not to lose money, but to make money.

When the Minister and I sat at the talks earlier we went through all this, but next June is when the contract will come out. There is no reason; it is bodies on the ground after that which will make sure. I have one question. Six months ago we talked about 80 Mbps; now we are coming down to 30 Mbps. Why are we doing that? We have to make sure we do the right thing now. I am not blaming the Minister, but I ask him to go back to the Cabinet and ask it to try to put the infrastructure in the hands of the State, for the simple reason that this is for the future. In ten, 15, 20 or 30 years down the line the decisions that politicians make here will be the ones that will help future generations. In all parts of rural Ireland, broadband is crucial. We are talking about regional development. We have to make sure it is delivered as fast as possible. I know that the legislation has to comply with the directive, but I ask the Minister to go back again and make sure that the State will handle the infrastructure, and that all the private companies run it after that.

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