Larry Butler (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him on the way he has mastered his brief in this regard. He is certainly moving in the right direction in terms of the different types of broadband that will come on stream in coming years. That will be evident within the next five years. We will see a major increase in the speeds and the designs of the new technology to come. There has not been much thought about the smart economy document published before Christmas. At that time people considered it as a bit of a gimmick. This document will probably prove to be one of the most important documents we have seen since Seán Lemass's document. We have an opportunity to dovetail our new technology, new broadband and new systems into this scheme. New ideas are coming forward in the generation of electricity and in how we can store wind power. Necessity is the mother of invention. It is important not to move too quickly. We are moving in the right direction. There are gaps in the system, which we could and should address as quickly as we can. However, we need to concentrate on the new generation of broadband that will come along whether it be in wireless or satellite. The Minister is saying that we should not depend on one system, but should have a number of systems to use. A number of systems will come through the new technology. We may be wise not to be too far advanced in certain parts of that technology.

In the smart economy it is important to be able to do business from any part of the island. Broadband will play a major role in ensuring we have an efficient way of doing business, whether it be in Kerry, London or New York. That is what we need to deliver for the multinationals. Inward investment will only come to the country if we have the best available technology that meets the requirements of the investing companies. I accept that cost is important. However, if two solutions are available, one costing a penny and the other costing a pound, if the technology is required it may be worth paying the pound. That is the important thing about technology.

As the Minister said, it is also important to gear up our education systems with the new technology, which will allow us to acquire a better and more efficient education system. Students will be able to benefit from this system.

The Minister mentioned the interconnector for our electricity supply system, the provision of which has been supported by the EU. We have to examine how the EU can assist us in securing the best possible broadband system. It is important that we examine the interconnector for our electricity supply with a view to designing a more efficient system.

I do not have much more to add other than to compliment the Minister and to thank the Labour Party for tabling the motion. We have had a good debate on this subject. I thank the Minister for coming to the House for this debate. He is a regular visitor to this House. It is important he keeps us up to date on this area. I want to mention the success of the installation scheme throughout the country. It is an example of another innovation in terms of how we can use our resources to the best possible advantage. Well done to the Minister in that regard.