Alan Kelly (Labour)

The way to get broadband into rural Ireland is obviously through a wireless network. There are various methods of doing this, which I will not detail. If that were prioritised and the investment made, it would be an achievement for the Minister and he would be rewarded for it. He would get all-party support for this. To get investment into rural Ireland and allow people the network access they deserve we must get broadband to the rural areas of this country and not focus just on Metropolitan Area Networks, MANs, in urban areas. That would show this Government has some interest in balanced regional development. Based on what has happened, it does not. This is a serious indictment and I hope the Government will change it.