Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I wish to share time with Deputy Sherlock.

Deputies:

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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I am delighted to contribute to this important debate on Ireland's broadband infrastructure. It is disappointing that we are having this debate once again. Standing up and telling Ministers how bad broadband roll-out has been seems to be an annual event.

It is ironic that during the previous Dáil, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, sat on the Opposition side of the House, along with Deputy Coveney and myself, as a spokesperson on communications. If the Minister had listened from these benches to the speech he gave last night, he would have been extremely disappointed.

It is often stated that in this sector, the regulator acting in the interests of the incumbent telecommunications company is due to regulatory capture. The Minister seems to have been subject to departmental capture. We see Ireland's continued poor showing on the OECD international broadband league tables and other calculations. Last night, we heard the Minister dispute the findings of these reports, which seems particularly petty and disingenuous.

The Minister stated that he had established an international advisory group to tell the Department what needs to be done to achieve national broadband roll-out. He will spend approximately €50,000 and will have a one-day briefing session on it. Most of what needs to be done is well known to the Department, Eircom and other operators and we simply need to get on with it.

ComReg has recorded approximately 800,000 broadband subscribers in the country. However, the rate of increase remains far too slow. We could have expected a natural increase as the usage of broadband and IT continues. It is demoralising to find the latest OECD figures put us in 22nd place out of 30 states. Portugal is the only one of the old 15 member states of the EU which ranks lower than Ireland.

This is why we find many distinguished communications business people such as the managing director of eBay Ireland, Mr. John McElligott, stating frankly that he is comprehensively disappointed by what has been achieved in broadband roll-out to date and highly concerned about the future. He is embarrassed to tell his peers in Europe and the United States of the poor levels of broadband in this country.

A key criticism which the Minister had in the previous Dáil when he was in Opposition was of the metropolitan area networks, MANs. He repeatedly told the then Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, and the former Minister with responsibility for communications, Deputy Noel Dempsey, of the need for an early cost-benefit analysis of the MANs because while optical rings were being run around towns in the Dublin region, nothing was being achieved for ordinary households or businesses or for lower income groups. We will spend up to €175 million on the second phase of this project.

The need for this arose because of the botched privatisation of Eircom, for which we still suffer four or five Ministers later. We will have a great deal of expenditure on a second shadow national telecommunications network which, in many parts of the country, is a white elephant. What will the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, do about the MANs? He has been Minister for nine months but has achieved little.

The national infrastructure network roll-out needs firm leadership by the Minister. In the UK, under the former Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, a supremo for broadband roll-out was appointed and the British got on with it and greatly improved their ratings. We have not achieved this. The group rural broadband scheme was abandoned after a substantial amount of money was spent but little was achieved. The Minister is a great disappointment when compared with his role as an Opposition spokesperson.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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In the five minutes allocated to me I will do my best to cover the issues I feel are pertinent. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion and to support it unequivocally. I wish to address a number of general points relating to the national broadband scheme, the lack of roll-out of broadband to rural areas and the need for the Government to adopt a universal service obligation similar to that which exists for postal and telephony services.

With regard to a universal service obligation, on 7 February last I received a letter from the Commission for Communications Regulation following representations by me on the issue of inadequate or no broadband provision in villages such as Ballyhooly and Glanworth. I speak of these villages because they are typical of many rural areas throughout the country. I was told in this letter that ComReg imposed certain obligations on Eircom but these obligations stretch only to the rights of a citizen to a functional telephone line, capable of carrying voice and data over 28.8 kbits.

While this obligation might have satisfied the Ireland of 20 or even ten years ago, it no longer goes far enough in terms of providing adequate telecommunications to the Ireland of today. Universal service obligation broadband must be enshrined in legislation as an entitlement.

The politicians of my parent's generation made representations on matters relating to the provision of telephones when no one could get access to a telephone line. Politicians of my generation make representations on the issue of broadband, when parts of this country are bereft of what is now considered an essential service. That people of my generation are being told that next generation networks are being rolled out when people living beyond the Pale are still using dial-up and can only rely on that narrow bandwidth is a joke when the average modem for a computer is 56 kbits.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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A regional disparity exists and it has a negative effect both socially and economically for those living in rural areas which are not covered. The admission by ComReg that a universal service obligation applies under EU regulations only for the provision of telephones and not in respect of broadband belies a serious flaw in the system. Every citizen should have an entitlement to broadband in the same way they have entitlement to an operational phone line. Consequently, I propose a review similar to that carried out by the European Commission in 2005 which would result in a legislative change and give a voice to the thousands of people living in rural Ireland denied access to what is an essential service by today's standards.

The broadband availability map found on the Department's website simply does not reflect the situation on the ground. I would go so far as to state the map is largely a work of fiction and so would many of my constituents. There is a glaring disparity between those who will eventually be able to avail of the next-generation networks and others, many of whom I represent in a mixed urban and rural constituency, who must still dial up for Internet access. There is an inequality at play here. The criteria laid down in the national broadband scheme must ensure there is 100% broadband coverage. The Minister must ensure those white areas depicting no coverage on the departmental map will have broadband access by June 2008. Broadband access is a right in today's Ireland.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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I wish to share time with Deputies Collins, O'Connor, Nolan and Dooley.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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I welcome the opportunity to speak on the vital issue of broadband services. It is obvious that an adequate broadband service is an integral component in ensuring the ongoing viability and sustainability of rural communities. Modern broadband is central to promoting entrepreneurship and developing a knowledge-based economy.

While progress has been made on broadband roll out, extensive areas of north Tipperary, such as Templederry, Moyne, Rear Cross, Silvermines and Toomevara, still remain without this vital service. We have a duty and responsibility to ensure both the Government and private service providers guarantee these communities are connected at the earliest possible date.

Lack of employment opportunities in our towns and villages mean that countless people must endure a daily long-distance commute to and from work elsewhere. This, combined with the stresses of modern life, has eroded many people's quality of life. With changes in technology and communications, more people are able to work and run businesses from home. Broadband is central to providing this lifestyle alternative.

Broadband Internet connection is vital in maintaining the competitiveness and attractiveness of the north Tipperary economy. Being able to communicate electronically at the fastest possible speed will ensure places like north Tipperary will be an attractive area to invest in for both foreign and indigenous companies. Having broadband access will enhance the regions for foreign investors. Broadband can, and will, play a significant part in securing future economic growth. The availability of high quality information technology is important in supporting industry and jobs.

For some inexplicable reason, Thurles was omitted by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from the second phase of MAN roll-out to enable the provision of high-speed and competitively priced broadband services. I am pleased that, in return for my agreement to support the Government, the Department is now committed to prioritising the construction of a MAN in Thurles which will include a link to the Archerstown industrial estate.

The presence of this network in Thurles will make it feasible and commercially viable for licensed operators to offer the latest broadband services to businesses, commercial interests, public services and other users. It will ensure Thurles is on an equal par with any other town in Ireland and the world for broadband provision.

I welcome the initiative by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to prepare a comprehensive paper on the provision of next-generation broadband options. His initiative with the national broadband scheme promises Government aid to ensure broadband for all unserviced areas by the end of 2009. His policy initiatives, however, must take into account new and developing forms of broadband technology with the excellent opportunities they present. Technologies such as WiMAX and mobile broadband have made significant advances in recent times. I urge the Minister to grasp the opportunities offered by these alternatives and initiate Government pilot schemes to assess their viability. I will put forward to the Minister communities in north Tipperary that would be ideal locations for the testing of such types of broadband.

Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Lowry for sharing time. This is an important motion and the more debates, both in and outside the Chamber, on the roll out of broadband, the better. I am open to another debate several months from now to monitor the progress made on broadband roll out.

If a survey had been conducted of Members during the general election, the availability and roll out of broadband services would have emerged as a common theme and the most frequently raised issue on the doorstep.

I have been critical of Eircom in this regard. I have publicly called on the company to improve its performance in broadband roll out on many occasions. So much so, its chief executive officer, at his request, met with me recently. The meeting, along with some of his staff, was informative. While I have been critical of the company, it is taking a proactive policy and offering to engage as much as it can with public representatives from all political parties. I found it had an open-door policy and was helpful.

Recently in the parish of Kildimo, the offices of the community council organised a door-to-door survey asking if parishioners would take up broadband if it became available through Eircom. From this it was able to assess the potential take-up which was then presented to Eircom. On foot of this, Eircom agreed to prioritise the availability of fixed-line broadband in Kildimo.

At our meeting Eircom pointed out other areas of the Limerick West constituency, such as Fedamore, Kilfinane, O'Brien's Bridge, Cappamore, Hospital, Knocklong, Ballylanders and Elton, that will be prioritised on foot of representations made by local community organisers. While we are rightly critical of Eircom, we can work constructively with it to raise its performance level.

Public private partnerships, PPPs, are very much underutilised. Limerick County Council recently introduced a new initiative where it will enter a PPP with a wireless broadband provider to make available water towers in the county as transmission towers. Some 12 wireless providers expressed an interest when the council first advertised the proposal. Some 57 water towers will be made available to the preferred partner, which will have exclusive use of them for 18 months. It is hoped the scheme will provide blanket coverage to the county. Other local authorities could follow suit on the lead taken by Limerick County Council. The Shannon Development Company has been proactive in providing a MAN for Newcastle West.

I will be glad to participate in a debate in nine months to measure the progress that hopefully will be made broadband roll out.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this important debate. I compliment, as is traditional — I mean this sincerely — Deputy Coveney and his colleagues for putting down this motion.

I am often sensitive about mentioning every street in Tallaght during a debate. Listening to my colleague from west Limerick and other speakers mentioning every townland in their constituencies, I am now not so afraid. I am charmed that so many heavy hitters from the Fine Gael Party are in the Chamber to hear my brief contribution, including two future leaders of the party. I am happy to——

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thought it was one.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I said at least two. It could be three.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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We will have a split.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Which ones is the Deputy excluding?

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Is the Deputy excluding me?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Maybe it is me.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I said at least three. It could be all of the Deputies.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Is he our future leader?

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Leadership is on the Deputy's mind.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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No, it is not. There is no contest in our party.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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We have no leadership considerations in our party at the moment.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Allow the Deputy to continue without interruption.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for protection.

I know Deputy Coveney was making a political point when he put down this motion, but it is important that we take the opportunity to deal with such issues in Private Members' business. I would not wish my colleagues to think that those of us on the Government benches do not want to contribute to the debate on the roll-out of services and be a little critical when we have to be. We are always happy to do that. Deputy Collins mentioned the last general election. That was 286 days ago and all of us have become involved in different issues since then.

I will talk about Tallaght and Dublin South-West for a minute. On a previous occasion, before the election, I prevailed upon Deputy Noel Dempsey, the former Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, to come to Tallaght to visit some of my own local schools in Fettercairn, including St. Anne's school and St. Mark's junior and senior schools in Springfield estate where I live. The Minister saw for himself the worth of the schemes that are in place. I often mention that I come from a different generation in which we were lucky that the teacher had a little bit of chalk. Those are bygone days in Dublin. Now one can go into one's local school — I am sure it is no different in Wexford or anywhere else — and see the progress that has been made. There will always be gaps and criticism of the facilities provided, but there has been much progress with regard to broadband and the use of computers in our schools. When one talks to the local principals, which I do on a regular basis, they are always eager to point out that the more resources that are available the better. I know some of this falls within the remit of the Department of Education and Science, but we must continue to exert pressure to ensure that these services are properly resourced and rolled out.

I am sorry the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is not here because I wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate him on his efforts in this regard. I do not want to be more parochial than anyone else, but I hope he will shortly take the opportunity to come to Dublin South-West and visit Tallaght. There are a few Green Party voters out there so he would be very welcome. He could then see for himself what is being achieved in our local schools. I visit schools throughout Dublin South-West on a regular basis and I see the excitement and enthusiasm that young people bring to the classroom nowadays, although it is a different generation to mine. My little granddaughter is able to access information on computers. I know this raises issues of safety and we should be careful. However, what happens in our classrooms nowadays is very positive. People can access all sorts of projects, information and programmes every day of the week. I am glad this is being done. I am also glad that school principals are saying that the roll-out of broadband under the Government programme has been positive. However, I am not afraid, as a Government Deputy, to make the point that this must continue.

Again, I do not want to be too parochial, but I will make one point. The need for advances in technology and to ensure that young people coming out of primary school and later education are conversant with computers was brought home to me recently when jobs were lost in the Jacob's factory in Tallaght. People made the point that we must continue, as an economy, to attract first-class jobs other than in the manufacturing sector, although I know there is much debate about this. In my generation students did not have be conversant with computer technology when they left school. In fact, we did not know what computers were. They were still far into the future. However, now we must ensure that this is the case. I am happy to support the Government amendment.

M J Nolan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to note that an up-to-date communications system is critical for the continued economic and social prosperity of this country. Our discussion of this subject is timely. We have made great strides in the quality of broadband services throughout the country, but we must be honest with ourselves, on all sides of the House, and admit there have been shortcomings in the service. There are black spots. I do not think there is a constituency in the country without problems. Since everyone else is being parochial, I will be too. As late as today I had calls from constituents in Grange in County Carlow and Goresbridge in County Kilkenny — two rural communities — from individuals who feel they have been let down by the Department in the roll-out of broadband. I was glad to hear the Minister confirm last night that the provision of a broadband service is a major priority for this Government and that he will continue to invest significant resources in ensuring that those black spots are addressed.

It is also important to note that an estimated 1 million customers across six platforms are now in receipt of a good-quality broadband service. Of our five mobile phone providers, three offer mobile broadband. It is also important to acknowledge the success of the metropolitan area networks in our towns. Phase two, which will extend the service to 27 more towns, is currently in progress. In my own town of Carlow, if it were not for the significant investment in the provision of a high-quality broadband system by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in tandem with the local authority, we would not have been successful in attracting significant foreign direct investment over the last six months. Without this first-class service, it would have been difficult for domestic and local industries and commercial operators to continue to operate competitively.

It is also important to consider the provision of broadband from the point of view of commuting. We are all interested in our carbon footprints and so on. If we had an acceptable level of service throughout the country we could make great strides in ensuring that many more people could work from home. They would not have to take their cars to their places of employment, causing congestion on the roadways. We have invested a lot in our infrastructure. I would like to see the continuing success of decentralisation and that can only happen in areas with a high-quality broadband service.

Local authorities have also benefited from investment in this area. Eircom has been singularly unhelpful in dealing with many of the problems involved in the provision of broadband services. In my communications with Eircom, it certainly could have done far better than it is doing. For example, I know of two houses side by side in a town of which one house can get broadband with no difficulty, while the subscriber next door cannot. I am talking about people in their 50s or 60s who may not be technically qualified to understand the details of why they can or cannot get a service. Eircom could do a lot more, on the PR side, in trying to explain the difficulties it is encountering in the provision of services. By the end of this month there will be almost 800,000 subscribers, which is a sixfold increase on four years ago. We may have had a slow start but we are now growing rapidly. I wish the Minister and his Department continued success.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. The Minister gave a clear and concise policy statement on broadband yesterday evening in which he set out the future of broadband services and provided an understanding of where we have come from. I will not stand here and suggest that all is rosy in the garden and that everything that should have been done has been done. That is certainly not the case. There is little doubt that there is still a large deficit in broadband throughout the country. There is no point dwelling on the past other than to learn from it. I am grateful for the Minister outlining how he sees the challenge in the future and how he plans to resolve it. We must take the information, recognise the problem and find a way through it to improve broadband.

Other speakers have set out why we must improve broadband and infrastructure. The competitiveness of our economy will be largely dependent on our capacity to develop the knowledge economy we spend much time talking about. I am not sure we spend as much time implementing it.

Broadband infrastructure is critical in terms of our competitiveness. At one level it is critical in terms of foreign direct investment. Everyone talks in terms of new technology but the truth is that broadband is available to these companies because large commercial, industrial or manufacturing operations can get access to broadband, through satellite or in other ways, because they have such magnitude. The cost will not prevent them receiving it.

The difficulty is the lack of broadband for SMEs, particularly small family run businesses in rural areas. These are the businesses that give the greatest level of employment in the economy. Our focus must be on those companies rather than large multinationals. For reasons of size and scale the latter are usually located in areas where high quality broadband is available. We must target SMEs.

As other Deputies have mentioned, we must consider those who wish to work from home and have a different work experience to that of previous generations and those whose livelihoods are concentrated in the home. Deputy Breen is familiar with the Shannon Development concept of e-towns. They have identified a small village in west Clare where work-life units are being built. These will be enabled with high speed broadband so that people can live and work in the same complex. In order to do so one needs higher penetration of broadband, thereby allowing people to continue their lives in rural areas.

We must concentrate on areas that are effectively dark at present. Those of us who represent rural constituencies are aware that one of the most consistent issues in rural areas during the election campaign was the lack of broadband facilities.

Efforts were made to deal with this in the past but Eircom was less than helpful. It effectively tried to compete only where another competitor appeared. The community broadband scheme, enunciated and delivered by the last Administration, was very helpful and worked very well in some rural areas. It did not work so well in others. It is unfortunate that when a rural broadband community scheme was about to be rolled out, Eircom enabled the local exchange after sitting on its hands for many years before. These are the laws of commerce but I thought it would have concentrated on other areas and worked in co-operation. It will be beneficial to all service providers when everyone has access to broadband. Eircom has not played its part but took a leisurely approach to rolling out the service. Engineers in the telecommunications sector tell me that many exchanges are upgraded at present and it would take very little to roll out the service. However, Eircom is holding back in an effort to retain a dominant position, which is not helpful.

There is a reasonable level of service in some of the urban areas such as Ennis and Shannon. There is also a metropolitan area network in Kilrush but we need to move to the next generation with higher speeds to provide SMEs with the most up-to-date information technology and a faster service. We do not need the same level of bandwidth in the rural areas but we need an effective service that will meet the needs of the diverse community. I welcome the fact that Eircom has rolled out the service in Scarriff and proposed to do the same in Feakle by the end of the year. While helpful, that is not as fast as it should be.

The national broadband scheme, announced by the Government and which the Minister referred to in detail, will be helpful in filling the gaps that currently exist in the network. The quicker we can get to a position where every household can access broadband, the better. This is not the endgame but a primary objective. Then we must move to the next stage, with higher speeds and lower costs, along with the roll-out of new technology to enable people to develop home life, business and communities through access to enhanced technology and higher speeds. This allows people to carry out their business successfully.

Other Deputies referred to the eTeams company in Scarriff, which is involved in translation of various languages for customers throughout the world. It is situated in a small village and through the use of broadband it allows people to work from home. This is the essence of the SME that we must support through the roll-out of broadband.

Service providers must play a more important role. The Minister stated that we have six platforms but, unfortunately, the company that owns the local loop has been less than forthcoming in the unbundling of the loop. While there has been development, there is still no effective competition. The lack of competition is stalling the roll-out of the service. If we are serious about this we must find a system to allow this to happen quickly.

The benefits are clear to see, particularly in terms of maintaining rural life in changed circumstances. Rural life no longer supports people living and working off the land or working in local manufacturing plants. People must do business in the electronic format, as well as conducting their personal business in this way. Some of the back to education programmes show how elderly citizens use the Internet and computers to do their personal business. Figures on the uptake of broadband show that it is not just the younger population who use broadband but also people who have retired and are undertaking back to education programmes. I am delighted we had one of the fastest per capita growth rates in broadband subscription in the year to September 2007, according to the OECD. By the end of the year, we will have 900,000 people connected but we must continue this.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to share time with Deputies Varadkar, Crawford, Hogan, Terence Flanagan, O'Mahony, Breen, Sheehan and Bannon.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That is agreed. There is a tight time limit on the speakers.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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We will rely on the Chair.

Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, and wish him well in his Department. Speaking about the end of the year returns for Shannon Development last January, the chief executive, Mr. Thompstone, said that to be truly competitive in the knowledge based economy, Ireland must have ultra high speed broadband available in every part of the country. Clients from major international corporations, he said, will not wait a few years for the private sector to provide a vital piece of communications infrastructure but will simply vote with their feet and go elsewhere. The chairman of ComReg said that Ireland's broadband is two years behind what is available in other EU countries. Clearly we are playing catch up.

There is an urgent need for investment in this area to bring Ireland into line with other countries. However, I am not sure that urgency is evident from the Government and its policies, despite the fact that this industry was worth €4.65 billion in 2007 in revenue to the State. In fact, the opposite appears to be the case with regard to investment in broadband. The Minister, when he was appointed, immediately took €10 million in capital funding out of broadband to allocate it to another area under his control. The telecommunications regulator, ComReg, which is funded from fees and levies it imposes on the industry, had a surplus in 2005 of €8.5 million and of €13.5 million in 2006. That is a total of €32 million of investment taken out of broadband. This problem must be addressed. Fine Gael has outlined urgent proposals and I urge the Minister to take them on board and work with us to ensure a better service for the country.

Other speakers have been parochial in their contributions and I intend to follow suit. It is inexplicable that the provincial town of Thurles was left out of phase II of MANs. I had correspondence from the Department today which suggests that Thurles will be considered for the next phase, along with 30 other towns in the final roll out of broadband. Whatever price the Government is paying Deputy Lowry for his support, I call on the Minister to clarify this as the Deputy and I are at one in believing that Thurles urgently requires broadband. According to the map provided by the regulator, north Tipperary has virtually full coverage but that is wrong and should be amended to identify the areas that cannot be served by Eircom or other providers. If it is wireless coverage, the wireless companies should be allowed to move into the area and be specific about what they can do.

A number of exchanges are due to be upgraded. I tried to find out the timeframe for the upgrading. Areas such as Gortnagoona, my local area, and Gortnahoe, at the other end of the constituency, are due to be upgraded but Eircom could not tell me when it would happen. It only said it will be done by 2009. However, the company also said it could not guarantee broadband to anybody living in excess of 2 km from the exchange. This gives rise to a number of issues. If the Government put the same emphasis on and investment into the delivery of broadband as it has into the failed decentralisation scheme, it would provide a far better quality of life for people in rural Ireland by allowing them to live and work there and do away with two of the major costs to employment, child care and transport. There is a duty on the Government to provide broadband to everybody in Ireland, particularly in rural areas, and avoid creating a rural-urban divide.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Coveney for bringing this issue before the House. I commend the motion. A number of Deputies have discussed the availability of broadband in rural areas and I have had many conversations with them about it. Deputy D'Arcy, for example, told me that in parts of north Wexford it is impossible to get broadband. When one considers that this area lies on the Rosslare to Belfast axis, the key economic hub of the country, it is incredible that there is no broadband access there. When I visited the Athlone Chamber of Commerce and met Senator McFadden, she told me that during the election campaign the lack of access to broadband was the main issue in north Westmeath. The situation is that bad.

If the Government is seeking a historical precedent for managing this, it should adopt the same approach to broadband availability as was adopted to rural electrification, which means every town and every village with no exceptions. I do not intend to be parochial in this debate. As the Fine Gael spokesperson on enterprise, trade and employment, it is my job to be the voice of business and enterprise. Broadband is a huge issue for business in Ireland; there is immense disquiet, from multinationals to small business, about the extent to which Ireland is falling behind in this area and in many others. We have spoken previously about Ireland's loss of competitiveness. Since the Government took office, Ireland has fallen from being the fourth most competitive country in the world to being the 22nd. It is disappointing that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment is not present to make a contribution to this debate, given that it is such a key issue for business.

It is also disappointing that Deputy O'Rourke, who is responsible for the botched privatisation of Eircom which has largely left us in this situation, did not think there would be enough publicity in coming to the House tonight to attack the Government on this issue and, indeed, her record on it. The Government's narrative on the economy is that it is going through a downturn that is largely related to the downturn in the construction sector. Although there is some truth in that, there is also much untruth. The downturn in the construction sector is unmasking a more fundamental problem in the economy, the loss of competitiveness. That is driven by high inflation and infrastructure. Broadband is a key element of the infrastructure along with roads, railways and ports.

A few examples will demonstrate how bad is our position. The average advertised speed for broadband in Ireland is 3mbps, which puts Ireland behind Hungary and Greece. In fact, the only OECD countries in a worse position than Ireland are Turkey and Mexico. One can quote Homer Simpson in a famous episode of "The Simpsons": "Did we lose a war or something?" In France and Korea the average advertised speed is 40mbps while in Japan it is 99mbps. Broadband penetration is only at 15% in Ireland compared to 35% in Denmark. John McElligott, managing director of eBay Ireland, whom I, Deputy Kenny and Deputy Coveney will be meeting tomorrow, has said he is embarrassed to tell his peers in other countries about Ireland's interconnectivity problems. Michael O'Dwyer of Pigsback.com said that for such a supposedly advanced economy, our broadband situation is pathetic. Another key chief executive officer, Donal McGuinness, has spoken about how horrendously expensive broadband is in this country. In Germany, for example, a person can get broadband connection for €20 per month for four years.

Ten or 12 years ago Ireland wanted to be the best, with the best education, the best cost base, the lowest taxes and the best technology. Since then we have become complacent, fat, lazy and uncompetitive. The Government must wake up to our situation, accept that it is a mess and implement the proposals in the Fine Gael document.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank my colleague, Deputy Coveney, for bringing this issue before the House. The Taoiseach appeared to have a problem knowing where County Cavan is some weeks ago in the House and the Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, said I did not know much about County Cavan either. However, the reason I raised the difficulties with broadband in County Cavan at that stage was that I received numerous representations from throughout my constituency and especially from County Cavan about the lack of broadband provision, particularly in rural areas. I am aware of a young couple who moved less than two miles away from the town of Cootehill only to find that no broadband was available, despite the fact that it was vital for their work. Other people in the Drum area also had serious problems. We are seeking a commitment from the Government and particularly from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that this issue will not just be examined but dealt with realistically.

I spoke to a group of people in Carrickmacross last Friday who told me that although the system they wanted was available outside their doors, it would cost €6,000 to link to it. Community groups simply cannot afford this money. With the winding down of employment in companies such as Kingspan Century and Grove Turkeys, to name but two in my constituency, many workers have an opportunity to start up a business on their own. However, this is being seriously curtailed by the lack of proper broadband facilities.

I am in not technically minded, unlike some of my party colleagues or possibly the Minister, but I am clearly advised that while some people have broadband in name, it is totally different to what their competitors have available to them in other countries. I urge the Minister not to divide the House on this issue but to agree with Deputy Coveney that there is an urgent need to provide adequate broadband to 100% of the population and to set clear targets on average speed, availability and penetration rates, to be achieved within set timeframes in the short or medium term. Above all, I urge him to undertake an immediate audit of all broadband telecommunication systems, whether in public or private ownership, to improve the infrastructure for carrying fibre optic cables and to draw up a detailed plan of State investment to expand the existing infrastructure.

I received a letter from a young man in Scotshouse, the home of the former Ceann Comhairle, the late Deputy Tom Fitzpatrick. This young man has tried everything to get a broadband service for himself and his local community. That large rural community is being totally ignored and the people feel like they are living in the Third World. How many more years will that community continue to be isolated in this way?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I compliment Deputy Coveney on his initiative in bringing a very reasonable motion before the House. It is quite frustrating that the Minister and the Government cannot come to terms with a motion that is so reasonable and commonsensical in its approach to the issue of broadband, which is a problem in every part of the country. Broadband has such an important contribution to make to the future economic and social development of our country. We spend a considerable amount of time speaking about our national development plan and the rolling out of the national infrastructural plans. However, if we do not have high-speed broadband, we are missing out on the information highway, in the same way that we would miss out on other aspects of economic development if we did not develop road, rail and transport networks. It is as important, if not more important, to have high-speed broadband facilities in all parts of the country if we are to remain competitive and be able to engage in service provision in the future. This is particularly true for small businesses.

In the south-eastern region, an area close to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's heart, the metropolitan area network was introduced some years ago through the South-East Regional Authority and local authorities. It has been implemented in 11 towns in the region. The South-East Regional Authority was ready to commence construction of a metropolitan area network in Tullow, Bagenalstown, Tramore and Dunmore East but the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources refused funding approval recently. I have received a response to a parliamentary question from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to the effect that the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the private sector and that he has no responsibility, which is not borne out by the facts concerning the financing and roll-out of this important infrastructure in the south east.

The question of backhaul and linking the system to Dublin and the outside world is a major problem and Eircom is not making a satisfactory contribution in that regard. The cost of a connection for small businesses in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny is €10,000. Public bodies are not even availing of the system. What message is being sent out if public bodies and agencies do not engage with the Department to gain access and provide broadband, which may assist in the provision of broadband in other areas?

I appeal to the Minister to consider what Deputy Coveney has put forward in the motion, to withdraw the amendment and work in a consensus fashion to deal with a problem which is difficult but which must be resolved in the interests of future employment opportunities in all of our constituencies.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important motion and commend my colleague, Deputy Coveney, for tabling it. The Fine Gael motion is very detailed, running to two pages, and seeks positive action from the Government to ensure the roll-out of broadband to all parts of the country, which is extremely important. Unfortunately, there has been no sense of urgency to date from the Government on this issue. Meanwhile, we are at the bottom of the league tables on broadband quality, penetration and price, which is simply not good enough.

On broadband speed, an area in which Ireland's performance is at its worst, the latest OECD figures from October 2007 place us in 33rd position out of 35 OECD countries, ahead only of Mexico and Turkey. Relative to our neighbours in the UK, who have 10.6 mbps, Ireland only has 3 mbps, which is very worrying. The lack of quality broadband is affecting our competitiveness, as stated by Fine Gael's enterprise spokesman, Deputy Varadkar. It is causing great difficulty for businesses throughout the country. It is also outrageous that while broadband in Ireland is three times slower than the rest of the EU, it is far more expensive than in other countries.

A proper broadband service is needed if companies are to operate efficiently. It would allow companies to communicate, via broadband, with their customers in many different parts of the world, which was unimaginable in the past. A proper broadband service is also a consideration when businesses are deciding where they will locate. The absence of such a service in many rural areas is not good for our competitiveness or for those particular areas.

Fine Gael has drawn up a document outlining ten steps to making Irish broadband better. I urge the Government to read that document. In my own constituency of Dublin North-East, which is only seven miles from Leinster House, broadband service is very patchy, particularly in the Howth area. Some of my constituents have to use the dial-up or the mobile service, although with the latter, calls often drop. It is not helpful for businesses trying to work in such an environment.

We should also ensure that we learn lessons from the past and do not siphon off money for other initiatives, as with the €10 million that was taken from the broadband budget for the greener homes scheme last October. We should ensure that more money is invested in broadband to make us more competitive. It is no good giving us words, we on this side of the House want to see action.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am glad to make a brief contribution to this debate and thank Deputy Coveney for highlighting the issue. All of the relevant figures have been given over the last two nights with regard to speed, availability and quality, so I will not re-hash that information now. The one common factor running through all of that information, however, is the fact that we are very much in the relegation zone and there is only one way we can go.

We all agree that broadband, if it were available in all parts of the country to all of the population, would transform our economy. It would be a particular advantage in rural Ireland, especially in peripheral areas because it would give such areas a chance to compete successfully with the core regions which have superior physical infrastructure and easier access. In the west of Ireland, and Mayo in particular, we do not have motorways, the DART, the Luas, or the metro but broadband is one piece of technology that could even the playing field somewhat. It should be a major vehicle for balanced regional development, allowing individuals and businesses to operate successfully in peripheral areas. People could have the benefits of rural life, away from gridlock and traffic jams. It would also breathe life into rural landscapes, which have lost their post offices, local shops and pubs. Every job in a disadvantaged area is worth ten in the large cities.

Sadly, the same deficit exists as with the physical infrastructure. One constant issue in my constituency of Mayo is the unavailability of broadband. I could give numerous examples, but a number of recent contacts will illustrate the point. I was contacted last week by a constituent from a small village, Toureen, County Mayo, which was one of the villages identified for broadband under the broadband rural scheme in 2005. However, the town is still waiting. Eircom told this constituent last week that broadband is not available and is not in line to be installed in the village. What makes it more frustrating is that the towns on each side of Toureen have broadband, but the village and its surrounds have no such access. Recently, the same village lost its post office and shop.

Broadband is an essential part of business, large and small craft industry and rural life. My constituent came from England to set up a business in Mayo to get the benefits of rural life. She has no broadband availability and would need to pay €2,900 per annum for a satellite connection even though she was paying £9.99 per month in England.

Another difficulty is that some of the initial Government-funded metropolitan area networks do not have fibre-based backhaul and, as such, are not in a position to be made active. Kiltimagh in County Mayo and Carrickmacross and Gweedore in County Donegal are examples. Ireland West Airport, Knock is also waiting. What is needed is Government intervention through the provision of the necessary fibre infrastructure. It makes no sense to allow the infrastructure provided using taxpayers' money to remain idle for the want of the additional component, which should have been provided at the same time as the MAN. I commend the motion to the House.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I commend Deputy Coveney for tabling this motion and on his recent policy document, Creating a Fibre Nation, which charts the way forward for broadband availability.

Yesterday, the European Competitive Telecommunications Association issued a report showing that Ireland is lagging behind our European competitors, ranked 12th out of 15, ahead only of Italy, Portugal and Greece. This comes as no surprise. During the election campaign, broadband was raised with us as a significant issue on every doorstep. We all remember the bridge at Leenane in County Galway that collapsed and cut off communication last year. However, many communities have been cut off from the broadband superhighway. For many people, booking a flight on-line takes just a few minutes. For others with a bad dial-up connection, it could take hours.

Next Friday is work-life balance day, yet many of my constituents and those in other constituencies are unable to take up the option of combining work and family responsibilities due to the lack of broadband. When I asked Eircom last year about the lack of broadband in County Clare, it advised me that 23 exchanges remain to be upgraded. Eircom told me that, in my neighbouring parish of Kildysart with which the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, is familiar, broadband will be delivered in the second quarter of 2008. Last week, it told me that the roll-out would be delayed until 2009. This delay is typical of what is occurring in many communities. Eircom told me that broadband is being delayed in Kildysart because the radio link upgrade required to provide capacity for broadband at the exchange needed further investment. This is a significant problem.

In Deputy Dooley's contribution, he referred to E-Training International based at Scarrif, which introduced a satellite broadband pilot scheme. The cost of satellite broadband is a deterrent for many. Many communities are taking the initiative, such as the Loop Head Broadband Group, a proactive group bringing broadband to local communities, and eTown in Miltown Malbay, a template for how economic development can be enhanced in rural communities.

The lack of MANs in many areas is a problem. While there is a network in Kilrush, there is none in Ennis or Shannon. The Minister of State is a constituency colleague of mine, but I urge the Department to fast-track MAN for the areas in Clare without it. I urge the Government to reconsider and support the motion.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Coveney for tabling this important motion. Where is the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, who is responsible for answering this motion? Has he gone to the airport to meet the Taoiseach after his grand European tour?

It is evident that the Government is dragging its feet on its commitment to make broadband available to 100% of the population as a matter of urgency. Every citizen should be treated equally as enshrined by the Constitution whether they live in Ballsbridge or Ballydonegan in Allihies on the Beara Peninsula. It is vital that the Minister provide an up-to-date report on progress, if any, every six months on the promised targets as outlined in Government policy on broadband. It is of paramount importance that the Minister ensures connections of next generation access quality to all schools and third level institutions to complement the Department of Education and Science's ICT and education strategy. The Government must invest sufficient money if broadband service is to be made available throughout the entire nation.

In May 2007, the former Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dempsey, launched the procurement process for the Government's new national broadband scheme. NBS will provide broadband services to reach the remaining areas of the country that are not broadband enabled. Later this week, the tender will move to the next phase, but it was hoped that a final decision would have been taken by the Department by the end of December 2007. Has the Department made its final decision, was Eircom's tender successful or will the people need to wait another decade before they get broadband in their areas?

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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According to a report published today by the pro-competition body, ECTA, Ireland is still the broadband poor relation to Europe's knowledge economies, namely, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland. ECTA has called for stronger powers for regulators to implement competition rules as it publishes the findings of its bi-annual survey on broadband take-up and competitiveness in Europe. The survey reveals that there is a serious threat to the primary source of competition, local loop unbundling, as incumbents seek a freeze on unbundling next generation fibre access lines, which could result in incumbent operators controlling a staggering 80% of broadband lines across Europe or close to 100% in many countries.

In a direct indictment of the Government, the report places Ireland 12th out of 15 European countries in terms of broadband connection ahead only of Italy, Portugal and Greece. In my area of Longford-Westmeath, I am a case in point when it comes to the lack of broadband roll-out in rural Ireland. I have made numerous attempts to have broadband installed in my home to no avail. I am keenly aware of the fact that rural areas are suffering economic setbacks in terms of foreign investment and the retention and expansion of home-grown industries and businesses due to lack of high-speed broadband. Taking myself as an example, conducting my Dáil and constituency business is dependent on the availability of high-speed broadband. Perhaps it is a Government conspiracy to curtail my political activities. The fact that my constituency's Fianna Fáil representatives voted last October to re-allocate funds for broadband roll-out could give this credence.

The bottom line is that, in 2008, I have no broadband access, which is commonplace across the whole of my constituency. I receive daily representations from people in similar situations asking what the Government is doing and why there is still no broadband roll-out in their areas. It is a significant blow to rural communities where the issue concerns sustainable living.

Our prospects for increased economic development are not looking good. According to Fintan O'Toole in The Irish Times:

We have, in this country, a great talent for fiction. So great, indeed, that it cannot be confined to the realms of James Joyce, Kate O'Brien and John McGahern. Our fictions are too important to be left to the novelists, so they burst through into public policy. The finest example of this creative flair is in the story we are telling ourselves about where we go after the Celtic Tiger. We're moving towards "a vibrant, knowledge-based economy".

I would like the Government to explain why it has let down the people so badly on the roll-out of broadband.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate on broadband services and to speak in support of the Government counter-motion, which details recent progress in the area of broadband and signals the Government's intent to further ambitiously improve Ireland's position. A planned investment of €8 billion for science, technology and innovation in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 shows the Government's commitment to the further development of the knowledge economy. The importance of broadband to the Irish economy has been demonstrated by the vigorous debate here in the Dáil and by our experiences outside this House. Ireland is a knowledge economy and needs high quality broadband services to underpin its continued growth.

Broadband services are provided in the Irish market by the private sector, with appropriate regulation from the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. ComReg's powers have been strengthened by the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007, which provides it with additional competition powers and increased fines to enforce regulatory obligations. Deputies on all sides outlined why this had to happen. I welcome the recent agreement between Eircom, ComReg and the other operators on local-loop unbundling, which means there are now no material obstacles in this regard. Also, the announcement in the last few weeks of new broadband products, with speeds up to 12 mbps, is a welcome improvement in the quality of broadband services available here.

The latest figures from the OECD show Ireland experienced the fastest growth in broadband take-up in the OECD and had a penetration rate per capita of over 18%.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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We were 33rd of 35.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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ComReg found that 40% of Irish households had a broadband connection at the end of September 2007. I expect that ComReg data for the current quarter will confirm that we are now at the 50% household penetration mark.

Significant Government investment has given Ireland excellent international connectivity and helped reduce the cost of regional backhaul to allow private sector investment in the regions. The continued roll-out of the metropolitan area networks, MANs, programme will see networks serving 93 towns throughout the country by the end of this year.

The recent group and county broadband scheme brought competitive broadband services and 127 projects have been completed. The decision to replace this scheme with the national broadband scheme will address remaining areas that are uneconomical for the private sector and meet all reasonable requests for broadband by the end of 2009. The winning bidder for the scheme is currently being selected through a competitive tender process and will provide a future-proofed, bandwidth scalable service.

The Government has made €435 million available for communications in the National Development Programme 2007-2013 and broadband, which includes funding for the MANs and national broadband scheme. Internationally, communications are moving to next generation broadband to deliver greater quality, speed and service for the consumer and this is happening where there is strong competition and incentives for innovation. Cross-platform competition is important and improvements in fixed, cable, wireless and mobile broadband networks are continuing apace in Ireland.

Past experience teaches us that demand for bandwidth will continue to increase and supply must not constrain this. It is, therefore, important that we get future policy right. Innovative actions by the Government and effective regulation can help the private sector make the right investment decisions. The Government must ensure the appropriate regulatory framework is in place and will also invest directly, for example in the case of the national broadband scheme, when the market fails.

There are uncertainties around the most appropriate technology choices and developments internationally are following varying choices and standards. The wrong choice could be detrimental to future development in Ireland. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has prepared a draft policy paper on next generation broadband and today completed a meeting of the expert international advisory forum to examine the issues, options and recommendations for future policy. The draft paper examines developments in the Irish market and internationally, the challenges Ireland faces in the development of next generation broadband and possible approaches.

A number of issues face the Government, including how to make the optimum use of State infrastructure, such as ducting and spectrum, to facilitate private sector investment. The Department will incorporate the advice of the forum as appropriate and publish the revised paper shortly for consultation with all stakeholders. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and I encourage and welcome the views of all interested parties on the paper.

We are now at a crossroads in terms of the future direction of the State's telecommunications policy. The Government is determined that Ireland will build on recent improvements so that it is properly positioned in this key area to compete in the global economy. Our policy will be based on sound evidence and clear principles that will guide Ireland's move towards next generation broadband. Contributions from Members on all sides of the House have made it clear that this issue exercises constituents in the business sector and the general public. I commend the Government motion to the House.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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I seek to share time with Deputies McHugh, Charles Flanagan and Coveney.

We have heard much hyperbole from the Government benches on this matter but very little on the action that needs to be taken. I am particularly disappointed to see the Government amendment as it waters down and neutralises the excellent proposals put forward by Deputy Coveney. I commend him on the work he has done in this area and the efforts he has made to highlight this key infrastructural area of our economy.

Ireland has a great opportunity to develop a knowledge-based economy, something that has been an aspiration since the early 1990s. However, the Government has failed miserably to achieve this. In terms of investment in job creation and competitiveness, broadband access is now as important as the infrastructural projects we hear of relating to transport and so on. I even suggest that broadband is more important than such projects in certain rural areas and Deputy O'Mahony gave a good example of this relating to tourism in County Mayo.

The issue of discrimination against children, in terms of educational opportunities lost through a lack of broadband access, has not been dwelt on in this debate. It is not acceptable that access to quality broadband is available in certain schools and to certain children while other schools and children are left behind. This is not in the interest of equality in society and it is not in the interest of our economy's future.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, agrees with us and, effectively, accepts our facts, which are based on OECD and EU statistics, because he cannot argue against them. He also agrees that something must be done on this matter. He has been in office for eight months but in that period his only concrete proposal relating to this subject appears to be to set up a forum to discuss the problem further. I disagree with the Government in this regard because discussion forums, task forces and so on appear to have replaced governance. No decision making is evident and the only leadership on critical issues such as broadband comes from this side of the House. I think it is fair to say that the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Green Party Ministers have failed to take action and deliver on the policies they committed to at the beginning of this term of Government. This is unfortunate and I commend the motion to the House.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Since 1997 people on the other side of the House have spoken of the knowledge economy and the information superhighway. For some 11 years the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, has been very proactive in his jargon and rhetoric in this regard. In 1999 the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, launched a task force report in Donegal on moving towards a service-based economy, which noted that manufacturing is not the way forward. However, such sentiments must be supported by critical infrastructure like broadband. It has been mentioned in every report of the past ten years and I believe this is empty rhetoric.

In 2002 my colleague, Deputy Coveney, became our chief spokesperson on communications and he was not full of empty rhetoric. He put forward policies and guidelines on what should be done. We have missed opportunities to work on broadband in tandem with the construction sector and the private sector, especially regarding roads, and we should have taken every chance to lay down fibre optic cables to increase bandwidth.

We still have opportunities and we still have time to address this issue. If the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Cowen, is serious in his rhetoric on front-loading infrastructure and not reducing capital spending he must apply these sentiments to broadband. We must work closely with Ofcom in Northern Ireland and ComReg and I welcome the fact that BT may soon penetrate this market and create more competition in this part of the island. The same goes for Eircom in Northern Ireland. That is what is needed. We have signed up to the Belfast Agreement. Enshrined in that Agreement is a responsibility to have communications across the Border.

My colleague, Deputy Seymour Crawford, referred to the absence of broadband infrastructure in Cavan and Monaghan. The same applies in my own County Donegal. We have missed opportunities but there is still time to do something about it.

People in the industry use the jargon, "virtual assistant". I googled it today and got 2.9 million examples of the virtual assistant programmes. This is where it is at. Countries such as Slovenia and Slovakia, that have recently become members of the EU, are at the races when it comes to broadband, we still have to pull up our socks in this game in places such as Meenletterbale in north east Inishowen, Carrowmenagh and Churchhill where people wish to work and live at home within the realm of best work-life balances, thus taking heavy traffic off the road. This would lead to better work practices. Opportunities have been missed during the past 11 years but we have to be serious and fast forward to create a critical infrastructure to provide critical mass.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I merely want to record the current chaotic state of broadband infrastructure in my constituency of Laois-Offaly. During the lifetime of the country and group broadband scheme, which the Government abolished in 2006, a substantial amount of money was given to various Internet providers to help them meet the costs of providing Internet access on broadband in the midlands. A broadband co-ordinator for the midlands was appointed but a short time after the appointment the post was abolished.

Under the GBS, a number of towns and villages in counties Laois and Offaly allegedly gained access to broadband. This merely was a work of fantasy. The so-called broadband mapping which was subsequently undertaken by the Department will show that broadband is available in much, if not all, of my constituency. However, this is far from the case because the methodology used for the mapping means that in areas where some homes and businesses have broadband, all homes and businesses in the area are deemed to have broadband. This is hugely problematic as many people in areas where broadband is theoretically available do not have de facto access to it. This is because the fixed wireless broadband provided can be obstructed by objects such as trees and buildings. One house may have broadband access where a neighbour is deprived of the facility. Depriving hard working people who pay their taxes of what is, in effect, a basic necessity in this day and age is simply not acceptable.

A disjointed, ill-thought out approach by the Government has left us at the bottom of the pile in terms of broadband availability. The latest survey, as outlined by Deputy Coveney, shows us ranking 12 out of 15, a dismal record for a country as wealthy as Ireland with such an open economy and such close ties to transnational companies.

For the people I represent in Laois and Offaly, broadband is necessary for so many aspects of day-to-day existence — education, work, research, simple things like renewing insurance, booking flights, applying for a driving test, keeping in touch with friends and family. Above all, good broadband access is essential if rural areas in the midlands are to be thriving communities rather than commuter ghost towns.

There are a number of small businesses in my constituency. These people are dependent on the Internet for the success of their business. They simply cannot survive in rural locations without the global research the Internet gives them. If we want entrepreneurs to locate in rural areas of the midlands in Laois-Offaly to provide employment and renewed vitality to areas we must ensure we have world class broadband infrastructure. That is why the policy published by Deputy Coveney is so valuable and that is why the initiative undertaken by the Deputy is so important. I appeal to the Minister to take its recommendations on board.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank everyone who contributed to this debate on all sides but in particular my Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin colleagues who are supporting the motion.

This was a genuine effort by Fine Gael to move the broadband debate forward in a positive way by proposing practical actions that were not difficult for the Government to agree to. The response from Government was to produce an alternative motion which it will vote through later which offers nothing to this debate except to offer self praise and to support more consultation and more forums looking for answers.

Last night the Minister opened his speech by saying he welcomed the opportunity to make a detailed contribution to the debate on the broadband challenge. I expected something new from him. I expected some ambition and some passion, the kind of passion we get all the time when he speaks about climate change. Instead, what we got was a history lesson by and large; a history lesson on the metropolitan area networks and how they came about; a history lesson on the performance of the regulator in unbundling local loops; a history lesson on the group broadband scheme even though it has not been in place since 2006 and a history lesson on the successful connection for many schools to broadband.

He did not tell us a single thing we did not already know. Instead of adding to the broadband debate, in terms of new thinking, he wasted everybody's time for 30 minutes. Not only that, but much of what he said last night and much of what is proposed in the Government's motion totally contradicts his own views of less than a year ago. Let me look at the MAN and the group broadband schemes in particular. The Government's amendment states that it:

commends:

the Government for its positive interventions, such as supporting the construction of Metropolitan Area Networks, through investment of €175 million for networks built or under construction in 93 regional cities and towns and providing capital grants under the County and Group Broadband Scheme.

Less than a year ago, before the Minister took office, when he frontbench spokesperson for the Green Party on communications he said:

The MANS project, in particular, has been a spectacular waste of public money. The first phase of MANS was built at a cost of €85 million and it became immediately apparent that the scheme was not working. Despite this spectacularly poor return on the State's investment, the Government continued to plough a further €118 million into the second phase of MANS, digging holes around the country to lay fibre cable which will never be lit up.

The Government's group broadband scheme which was meant to provide broadband access to more remote areas of the country has been a total failure. They have thrown good money after bad and have left us without the broadband services our industries need, if we are to continue to thrive as a knowledge economy.

How things have changed in eight months. He now gives the Department's view and the Department's rhetoric. The new and ambitious thinking he had when on this side is nowhere to be seen.

In this debate we need solutions. We need solutions on the immediate issues of availability for everybody and speeds in terms of next generation access. I believe that last night the Minister misled the Dáil by raising expectations of the national broadband scheme, saying it would deliver broadband in every area that does not have broadband connectivity by 1 July 2008. I hope he is right but I think he is wrong. This is the map that he and the Department use for deciding where there is to be broadband provision and where there is no provision.

I will take two counties on which I have some information. Last night I pointed to County Leitrim where a survey was taken of 1,200 people which showed that 50% of people who responded to this survey have no access to broadband. Yet the Department's map shows that Leitrim has almost full connectivity. In terms of Kilkenny, an area in which Deputy Hogan will be interested, I have here a file of broadband correspondence only from Kilkenny. The map shows full connectivity for that county. We need a review of that and we need to be very wary of raising expectations that the national broadband scheme will bring broadband to every part of the country that does not currently have it because we are talking about hundreds of thousands of people.

In terms of next generation access we need to deliver on speeds and put actions in place, not have endless consultation. This motion is about what we want Ireland to look like in five or ten years. We need a Minister and a Government who can look and plan ahead for what industry, households and consumers need. Instead, we have a Government which just wants to protect itself through its amendment. We propose actions that can prepare for the future, light up Ireland in terms of broadband connectivity and anticipate the technologies that will provide the solutions of the future to rural as well as urban parts of Ireland. We need a Minister to work with us to buy into that but we do not have one. I commend the motion to the House.