Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire arís. Aontaím leis go bhfuil sé tráthúil go bhfuil an rún seo os ár gcomhair. Molaim an Lucht Oibre as ucht an rún a chur ar fáil dúinn. Tugann sé seans dúinn ár dtuairimí a nochtadh. Níos tábhachtaí fós, tugann sé seans dúinn tuairimí an Aire a chloisint freisin. Níl aon amhras faoi ná go leanfar leis an díospóireacht seo go dtí go mbeidh seirbhís leathanbhanda iomlán againn, ní hamháin sna cathracha agus na bailte móra ach faoin tuath freisin. Cruthaíonn na staitisticí réasúnta a thug an Aire go bhfuil dul chun cinn á dhéanamh. Os rud é go bhfuil folúntais anseo is ansiúd, dar ndóigh, ní chóir go gcuireadh sé aon ionadh orainn go bhfuil díospóireacht leanúnach á lorg.

The Minister rightly said it is timely that we are debating this motion. I compliment the Labour Party on selecting this subject for debate this evening. It would make one mindful of the infrastructure development that has occurred throughout the country in recent years. In the past everybody was not playing on a level playing pitch when it came to business. We need only think of our road infrastructure, a subject on which we had a debate similar to this one. The same applies to rail services, including rail freight services. People in isolated or neglected areas would have been able to argue that there was a distortion in the markets in that people in one area were better off in terms of the tools of trade than people in another area.

We are now living in modern times, dealing with the advanced technology, and the same points are being put forward, and rightly so. I am convinced, almost to the point of sounding like a broken record, that were it not for the people, particularly those in rural Ireland, having continued to make the points they made, we would not have the wonderful roads and improved transport services, including rail services, that we have today. What I hope will emerge from this and future debates is that the provision of broadband services will be kept live on the Government agenda and that progress in that respect will be monitored.

I accept there is a huge onus on private service providers and we should remember that there are limitations to the extent that the State can intervene. The State can intervene 100% to address the existing issues. We must depend, therefore, on investment at all times. Those who have opportunities to invest have been short-sighted in not doing so in this area. Nowadays, wherever one's computer is, to all intents and purposes, is where one's office is. If 70% of Irish homes have computers, as was the statistic given, it is an indication of the great potential that exists in this area. We have to make a special case for people in rural Ireland because, in many ways, they always experience difficulties compared to people in the more developed areas. We all know of areas in rural Ireland where, if given half a chance, such support would not only introduce a level playing field for businesses but would foster community development.

Huge development has occurred in rural Ireland. In a rural area in County Clare in a matter of ten or 12 years I have seen new houses built and a new community developed, and without any particular focus or plan services have been provided. A hairdresser, a beautician, a person who repairs televisions and a doctor have set up business in the area. Organic development has occurred there. If broadband services are not delivered to rural areas, such development will not take place.

Senator O'Toole referred to cottage industries, which are dear to my heart. Given the current economic climate, we will have to focus more on supports for cottage-type industries, small businesses such as a man making wrought iron gates and employing five or six people and a person running a small bakery from home, selling apple tarts and scones. Such businesses are being set up, even though at times European bureaucracy has prevented such enterprise by almost deifying the idea of hygienic regulations etc.

Cottage industries have the best opportunity of surviving in the current economic climate. Big industries like Dell and others have gone to the wall and have had to let 15, 18, 100 or even 2,000 staff go, people who do not have a chance of getting another job in the current economic climate. Broadband provision can help to develop small industries. We should not take for granted that markets do not exist for the goods produced by such small industries. People are selling their own produce in markets at the weekend and such markets are popular. People even pay above the normal price for such produce because it is organic. People believe they are buying wholesome food and they do not have to check the ingredients. Such enterprises are blossoming, but those engaged in them must have access to the necessary communications infrastructure.

The Minister is worthy of high praise. I am not being patronising in saying that, but on any occasion I have heard him explain what is happening in this area, he has made some credible contributions to the ongoing debate on this subject. He has shown that we have recognised where there is a vacuum or problems in this area and that we have to respond to that. There is a question of the need to reprioritise in this regard. If we did not succeed in achieving the objective under the first tranche, it is not right to allow that process to move ahead without examining the changes that have occurred, particularly the changed economic climate, and the upgrading of technology services. Reprioritisation in this respect is necessary.

The objective of the national broadband scheme is to provide a broadband service at an affordable price, particularly to people in rural Ireland where there is no broadband service. I understand that there may be certain European restrictions on the extent to which the Government can intervene. It is useful to consider all those issues in this debate. I believe we all intend to play a proactive role in this respect in the future. The worst thing that could happen is that we might become despondent and believe that we do not have people willing to invest in this area and, therefore, such provision will not be delivered. It is not like that. There is still the possibility of private investors coming forward. We should get across to people how important it is for them to be part of this development, even in terms of getting a return on their investment. The selection of 78 schools to be part of a pilot scheme is an indication that we are getting down to basics in that regard.

My compliments to the Labour Party on putting forward this issue for debate. I hope we will have continuing debate and that we can measure the progress as we go forward because it is one of the most important issues we will debate.