Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

Having listened to some other Members, I note broadband is the core element raised in the discussion on the ICT sector. Ireland has a very strong ICT sector. In generic terms, there are 210 foreign-owned ICT companies in Ireland, including most of the global leaders such as Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Dell, Google and others. Other companies are considering Ireland as a potential location. There are approximately 600 indigenous software companies whose activities include financial services, security, gaming, health care and educational solutions. This represents a massive turnover for the Irish economy, amounting to approximately €50 billion.

The sector accounts for half of the total Irish business investment in research and development. The Government allocated approximately €8.2 billion for research and development in 2006 for the period 2006 to 2013. ICT will be the largest sector benefiting from this investment. Significant sums will also be spent on sustainable energy and research.

Many of the approaches to sustainability that are outlined by the Government's paper require high-speed broadband and appropriate digital content. Broadband is crucial to regional development and to making Ireland a competitive location for attracting foreign direct investment and ICT-linked companies.

The national broadband scheme, benefiting from the funding for next generation broadband, accounts for approximately €220 million. Great work has been done to make progress on the scheme and the project was put out to tender. Two companies tendered and one was successful. A contractual agreement for approximately 18 months is in place and extends from the end of December 2008 to the end of September of 2010. I am not sure whether any of the work has begun on the ground yet, nor am I sure whether the company awarded the contract, Hutchinson 3G, has started any of the work. Many parts of the country are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the work. There are many areas with no broadband availability at present. It is a failing on the part of Eircom and other providers not to provide broadband to all areas of the country. Just because there may be insufficient critical mass does not mean companies such as Eircom, which have been given State assistance, cannot treat all areas and all people equally. Someone in a rural area deserves the same service as someone in an urban area.

The importance of ICT and sustainable development are underlined by the European Commission's recent communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled "Addressing the challenge of energy efficiency through Information and Communication Technologies".

A number of innovative projects are under way in Ireland or are under active consideration. Ireland has always had an active renewable energy generation programme focusing on wind energy. Ireland has an island economy and our European neighbours view us as one of the best countries in Europe for wind energy generation, both on land and offshore. Energy generation from waves and tidal streams must also be borne in mind. The White Paper on energy calls for 33% generation of electricity from these variable sources by 2012. Grid integration of such a high ratio of variable energy sources requires smart solutions. Work has already commenced on a variation of a smart-grid approach which aims at enhancing the ability of the grid to accept more diverse energy sources, such as renewable and micro-generated energy, at minimum cost while maintaining the same, or enhanced, reliability or performance standards. One of the key objectives of the scheme is to identify the smartest locations on the grid to connect for renewable energy. This is linked to the area of ICT and to meeting the White Paper objectives of creating one third of our electricity from the aforesaid sources by 2020.

In addition to realising benefits in the transport and flexi-work area and adopting a range of energy efficiency measures, Ireland is planning a state-of-the-art sensor-mediated environmental-marine research programme, SmartBay. This programme will provide new information on marine ecosystems and will be instrumental in predicting changes to the north Atlantic drift. Flagship infrastructure includes deep-water sensor array tended by a remotely operated vehicle and a floating test and demonstration unit. Wireless elements of this include a directional wave rider located at the ocean energy test site. In addition, a tide gauge network and a hydrodynamic modelling system are included in the wireless system. A fibre-optic system will be located in Galway Bay linking the shore to an underwater hub. This will provide crucial information, especially to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on tidal patterns. It will prove to be key to the fishing industry, in particular, in that it will indicate shoal patterns. Anyone linked to the salmon industry is told salmon shoal patterns are changing and the salmon are not entering Irish waters but remaining in deeper waters. The new system will provide fishermen and the Department with crucial information.

The provision of broadband on the island is key in the ICT sector. Reference was made to broadband availability in the North. A higher percentage of people may have broadband in the North by comparison with here but I am not sure of its quality. The national broadband scheme, as proposed, will be vital to meeting the broadband needs of the Republic. The Government should not allow companies such as Eircom to walk away and hide from the scheme given that their responsibility is to their customers. Senator Brady called for the re-nationalisation of Eircom. This could prove productive but, even without doing so, the company must honour its obligations. In this regard, it must be taken to task by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in respect of fulfilling its commitment to develop the hubs in various small towns nationally.