Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Before Sky got off the ground, we had an opportunity to have our own footprint over Europe, yet we blew it. We threw it away and I regret that very much. It is possibly a historical point of view but these were important allocations to our country. We are currently at the cutting edge of the communications sector in which a large number of jobs are being created. The roll-out of broadband is vital in this regard.

Perhaps the Minister of State could outline the situation concerning broadband. I cannot understand how, as most towns have now been ducted, we are getting wireless broadband instead of ducted systems. Perhaps the major contributors are getting broadband through the ducted system. Work has been carried out in most towns to install broadband facilities but I do not see much benefit coming from it due to recent changes in technology. A large degree of broadband penetration is vital for the development of this country. We should be at the forefront in thisregard.

I commend the Bill to the House. I wish the Minister of State well in his Department. It is an exciting one in which to work because it covers a wide variety of interests. It is important to have a watchdog for consumers' interests.