Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate, which is timely in light of the Government decision taken yesterday. I agree with other Members that that decision is, unfortunately, the wrong decision. In terms of the history of privatisation in this State, including the disastrous privatisation of Eircom and what it has meant for broadband provision throughout this State, this decision will go down as having been a very bad one.

The Minister's e-mail to Members yesterday outlining the Government decision refers to the stimulus model and the full concession model, both of which are financed, designed and built by the private sector. It is the State and not the private sector that finances both models. The issue that arises is whether at the end of the contract period the State has an asset or not. Based on the decision made yesterday, the State will have no asset at the end of this process. What the national broadband plan should do is provide a future-proofed infrastructure for the country and the nation, but we are going to give that away and we are going to pay the private sector to take it from us. That is what is wrong with this decision.

The Minister referred in his contribution to a notional benefit to the State owning the asset. However, in his communication to Members yesterday he stated that he recognised the potential long-term value in the State owning the network. Which is it?

Is it long-term value or a notional benefit? I believe it is long-term value, and that if we rolled out a proper fibre optic broadband solution to every house and premises it would pay dividends back to the State in terms of job creation, the development of rural businesses and returns to the taxpayer far beyond the cost of the period of the concession. The Minister has taken a very short-term view that is completely wrong. Unfortunately, it is part of the privatisation agenda that has been running through this and previous Governments, and we will live to regret that decision.

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