Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach anocht chun an ábhair tábhachtach seo a phlé.

I compliment Senator Ross and his independent colleagues on bringing forward a Private Members' Bill. Members bringing forward Bills has been a feature of the House in recent years. It is opportune that a Bill has been tabled on this subject as it allows us to discuss an important infrastructural issue pertaining to the future development of the economy.

The island is too small for rail to be a very effective means of transportation other than for the movement of large tonnage and we are dependent on goods vehicles. Therefore, we invested in roads to get people from A to B as speedily as possible and to increase competitiveness in our economy and business. It is fair to state that while roads are the artery of the business and economic life of the country, broadband is the artery for the knowledge society. It is important that we maintain a strong focus on it and that we constantly review the progress being made.

Since he took office, the Minister has shown that he has a good grasp of this issue. We have had one or two debates on the topic during the past 12 months. The Minister has identified a policy to pursue and we have seen the benefits of the policies pursued in recent years in the increase in the take-up and provision of broadband. The figures are reasonably impressive.

Everybody acknowledges that we were slower to start that we would have liked to have been. It might have been better to have actively rolled out broadband prior to the IPO in Eircom although I concur with the general thrust of policy that injecting and ensuring competition in the area is one of the best catalysts to get us where we want to be. The Minister stated the cornerstone of his policy is to increase competition in the sector.

According to the statistics we are still lagging behind the OECD average. I tried to extrapolate the figures with regard to mobile broadband subscribers, the number of which has risen considerably and is approaching 250,000. The OECD figures do not include the mobile figures and as a consequence when we make comparisons it is important that we do so on a like with like basis. If I am correct in my assessment, broadband penetration here in the final quarter of last year was at approximately 19.2% of the population as against an average of 20% for OECD countries.

Our intention should be to be ahead of the OECD average and to be one of the leading countries in Europe. A number of years ago, we took great pride in surpassing the United States as the largest exporter of computer software in the world. We built a great deal of our economy and growth potential in this sector. Therefore, it is imperative that we have the infrastructure to assist and facilitate increasing growth and adapt to changes in the area.

Senator O'Toole made the point, which was emphasised by the Minister, that mobile telephony and wireless broadband offer significant potential particularly in areas where it will not be possible to extend the fixed network. It is interesting that emphasis is being laid on this during the consultation process arising from which we will set ambitious targets. We hope to have widespread universal access to broadband by 2010.

A great deal of focus is placed on this at local level, particularly by local authorities. In County Wexford, broadband is readily available in Wexford town and its surrounding areas. However, New Ross, Enniscorthy and Gorey are awaiting broadband. I spoke to senior officials in those areas and they are happy it is in progress and that the national development plan will ensure that broadband is extended to those areas in the course of the development plan.

Senator Ross raised the matter of the risk of us losing foreign direct investment because large corporate companies might not have access to broadband. My information is that every corporate company seeking broadband has ready access to it. Large industry is not suffering from a lack of connection, which would be a retrograde step. As the Senator pointed out, we depended on foreign direct investment for much of growth we saw in the past and I am sure will see more in the future.

We should keep this area under review. I note the proposal for two additional quangos and I do not believe they are necessary. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, of which I am a member as is Senator Joe O'Toole, is an ideal forum for the Minister to attend periodically along with his officials to assess our progress and establish whether any lacunae exist which need to be addressed. Senator Quinn has also attended meetings of the committee. We need to work effectively within the structures which exist and I have every confidence in the Minister's grasp of his brief, particularly with regard to broadband.

While we should keep our attention on this matter because it is important for our future economic wellbeing, this Bill is not necessary. I will not go into the details as to why because the Cathaoirleach will not allow me to do so.