Alan Kelly (Labour)

I would like the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to come to the House to update Senators on the roll-out of telecommunications services. The outgoing chief executive of Shannon Development, Mr. Kevin Thompson, recently said that if we do not improve our performance in this area, the infrastructural problems associated with the Red Cow area of Dublin will be mirrored in the telecommunications sector. I am concerned that basic broadband services have not yet been rolled out to between 15% and 20% of the country. The broadband roll-out programme is behind schedule and may not be completed for another year and a half.

Successive Governments have invested €2.5 million in the education system to train graduates to work in high-tech sectors of the economy. We are aware of the recent slowdown in the housing market and the reduction in manufacturing output. It is clear from the comments of people on all sides of this argument that the future involves developing jobs in areas like telecommunications and information technology. I speak with some knowledge in this regard because I worked as an e-business manager before I was elected to this House. Over a number of years, we have invested in educating people so they can work in communications, etc.