Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when legislation will be introduced to require the installation of open access fibre connection in all new premises being built here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37184/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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In July 2008 I published a consultation paper on next generation broadband. The introduction of a regulation to require the installation of open access fibre connection in new premises, where practicable, was one of the proposed policy actions. I am keen to progress this quickly and I have set up a working group comprising officials from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, ComReg and my Department to examine a range of practical issues that need to be addressed before a regulation can be put into effect. These include the technical specifications and standards that will be required for open access fibre, cost implications and whether universal application is practicable. I intend that the group will have concluded its work, with new regulations, as a matter of urgency.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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This is a ministerial and Government commitment to have this completed and done by the end of this year. It will cost no money. It is about regulation and requiring all new buildings to have ducting in place to facilitate the kind of infrastructure we talked about earlier. Will this measure be completed by the end of the year?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The key is to get it right, whether it is December this year or January next year. I would have wanted it earlier rather than later but above everything else one needs to get it right. There are significant cost implications and technical issues that must be got right so builders going into buildings know exactly what they are doing and users, telecom operators and the householders get value for money through sensible regulations. Within a short space of months I expect to see those in place.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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This is the new utility. All new houses, as well as having water, power and sewerage, will have a new communications and entertainment infrastructure coming in and out. Would the Minister accept the industry has grown impatient with him and his Department regarding taking definite actions to facilitate competition and the roll-out of next-generation broadband? That the Minister has fudged again on a definite timescale for making this happen, having given a commitment in the summer that it would happen by the end of the year, again undermines confidence in him regarding his ability to deliver on broadband promises.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The industry has seen the demand or sales of broadband double in the approximate year and half that I have been in office.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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That is no thanks to the Minister. It is demand led.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Decisions I have taken, difficult in some cases, contrary to what Deputy Coveney has advised in many instances, have created a more secure environment for the industry to invest over €730 million this year and introduce new broadband packages offering up to 50 megabit connectivity that did not exist before I came into office. I am happy to stand over the record and see an industry which is beginning to invest and customers who are beginning to benefit from decreasing prices, increasing speeds and to continue that progress into the new year.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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That is in spite of Government action.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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It is because of Government action.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Minister would itemise the Government action taken in this area. In my experience, industry people tell me they are rolling out broadband facilities and making investments, particularly in the mobile sector, but it is despite the lack of decision making on regulation or investment. One of the examples of that is that we spent €50 million on phase 2 of the metropolitan area networks, yet we will not give a contract to manage them. Why is that?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I said in my response earlier that we have measures in place which allow access to that infrastructure. I am happy that the strategic decisions we have taken in the last year in particular——

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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How many of the 66 MANs are not lit up now in phase 2?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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——which have ensured we are not facilitating one operator or platform ahead of another were correct. That resulted in a number of operators investing very speedily in the new networks we need.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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What has the Minister done?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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When different advice and direction could have been taken elsewhere I set out that path and it has been verified by the improved take-up of broadband. I look to expand on that through direct State intervention in terms of access we provide into houses, use of State infrastructure, broadband delivered to our schools and a next-generation broadband scheme which will cover every area of the country.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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They are all promises. That is the problem. The Minister has not delivered on any of them.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Those direct Government measures, which are being delivered, will allow us to go further from the base we have.