Martin Brady (Fianna Fail)

I acknowledge the very fine contributions made and I especially thank the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I am aware the Minister, Deputy Ryan, means well. I refer to a matter raised by Senator Norris, that is, the privatisation of Telecom Éireann. I worked in Telecom Éireann and I was a trade union official and president of a union in that company. I never believed it was a good idea to privatise Telecom Éireann. Telecom Éireann gave a terrific service to its customers at that time. Its staff were excellent and superb and well qualified, such that 1,100 went to work on contract in England. The opposite is the case now. There have been four or five owners of Telecom Éireann since I left. Each one came in, stripped the assets and ran down the infrastructure. The public received a worse service and that was the result of privatisation for the people of the country in respect of Telecom Éireann.

When I was involved in the union we held marches and called for the fat cats to keep their hands off Telecom Éireann. I apportion some blame to the unions because they became partners with the company and the company put forward carrots and sticks which they accepted. I refer to the ESOP, employee share ownership plan, and so on. That is why we are in the situation in which we find ourselves. When I was in Telecom Éireann some 20 years ago we discussed broadband and we said exactly what has been said today. Why do we not have it? The reason is that the fat cats came in their droves. There were more chiefs than Indians, but they all looked after themselves in a similar fashion to what took place in the banks not long ago. I wish to put this on record because it is important for me that I do so. I hold sincere convictions on the matter.

It has been stated that it is very important to have telecommunications infrastructure in place to attract investors, whether foreign investment, investment in Ireland or wherever. If one does not have a good telecommunications system, this will not occur. When the economy turns around, and I have no doubt it will do so, we must be ready to get out of the traps and to grab the opportunities. If we do not have a good broadband system and a good telecommunications system, that will not occur.

Privatisation is not always the right thing to do. Telecom Éireann was sold for the price of a couple of warehouses, or for peanuts. It is not always a good idea when business becomes too cumbersome in a company such as Telecom Éireann to get rid of it, or to say that because it is too much hassle someone else should look after it. It was a bad mistake, although I realise it was the Government in which I am involved which was responsible. We cannot look backwards because we all make mistakes. We must move forward and deal with what we have. I have every confidence in the Minister, a sincere person whose heart is in the right place. All is not lost and I am hopeful the problem will be resolved when the economy turns around.

Ireland will be in a position to encourage foreign investors to locate here if we are able to offer them the best telecommunications system in the world, as was the case when Telecom Éireann was the provider. At that time, our telecommunications system was more advanced than those of France, Britain and many other countries. This is no longer the case because the fat cats were only interested in themselves, greed took over, the service to customers deteriorated and infrastructure was not sufficiently upgraded. While there are large quantities of copper in the ground, it is completely useless. I commend the motion to the House.