Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael)

I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise the matter of Ireland availing of the opportunity to provide tier 1 international connectivity to the south west by ensuring a connection is made to the Hibernia Atlantic Express cable being laid from the US to the UK and on into Europe. Ireland was not initially involved but there is an opportunity to provide a link which would give international connectivity to the Atlantic corridor region and allow it to become a serious location for data centres. Technology actions such as this, which are needed to support the development of a smart economy, were identified in a 2009 Government report, the Knowledge Society Strategy. It stated:

Direct access to an international IP backbone is needed in the southern part of Ireland akin to the Kelvin project in the North. The Government should first assess the possibility of interconnection to an existing submarine cable at the nearest point.

Reduced latency on international IP links would make Ireland a more attractive location for data centres and associated foreign direct investment. Such investment would capitalise on and complement the Kelvin project in the North. This would also make it attractive and feasible to locate data centres outside Dublin.

Although we need a strong centre around the capital, this would provide opportunities for areas outside Dublin. Cork has received some foreign direct investment, but this type of connectivity is needed if we are to develop cloud computing and other such data centres in the area.

Initially, the Hibernia Atlantic Express consortium was to provide the link but then the issue came up that the Government might pay for it. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, has addressed this matter in the Dáil and met with Hibernia Atlantic Express on it. He was concerned about rules governing state aid and the costs involved. Other high level meetings have been held between the Minister and the consortium along with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, and Cork Chamber of Commerce. While I was not privy to these high level meetings, I would hope some way could be found to ensure connectivity to this tier 1 cable.

While it is a private consortium, it is providing exactly what is needed in the region. We will never get this type of connectivity at this cost if the State were to do it itself. It provides an ideal opportunity to get connectivity for the south west. The follow-on benefits of such a move in Cork and the south west have been well-documented. It is important whatever consultations have been held are in the public arena and if the issue of costs and state aid have been circumvented.