Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like other Senators, I compliment the proposers of the motion on charities. I hope something positive will come of it in the near future.

Ireland's wireless spectrum bands were to be put up for auction last July but we still have not seen the auctions taken place. Some 28 blocks of spectrum will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Naturally, they will not all be auctioned in one year but the telecommunications companies are waiting. Some estimates suggest that we could raise up to ¤260 million from these auctions. Naturally, it will not all be raised in one year but some of it could be raised this year if the auctions were held. Will the Minister explain why the auctions have been delayed? They are so important. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, has rolled out Delivering a Connected Society - A National Broadband Plan for Ireland. These auctions would help to proceed with the plan.

The independent regulator's office is an independent office. The Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, should be commended for doing what he is doing and on doing what is within his powers to ensure that every sector in society and every business in every part of Ireland is connected and perhaps even fourth generation or 4G enabled.

Many of the telecommunications firms in Ireland claim that until the auctions take place they will not be able to guarantee investment from their parent companies. This is important because if the parent companies will not guarantee investment, the auction or the money will not be there. The companies will have to work together to get these auctions in place. There is only one month until the analogue system switches off. It should be up and ready to go.

I read a statement that the companies had expected the auction by last Easter. We were told it would be July. We are lagging behind. Germany, Spain, Italy and France have already completed their spectrum offers. We are supposed to be at the coal-face or to the fore. We must get up on our bicycle. There has been a delay in this regard in England. I read that this was because the telecommunications companies there were jockeying for position. Is that the case in Ireland? If it is, I want to know what the delay is and what is holding it up. I realise the Minister has said it and he is trying his best. He has rolled out the plan and done what he has done. I refer to the significant ¤9 billion portion of the ¤40 billion for connecting Europe infrastructure that the Minister has secured. The Department is doing its business but I want to know what is slowing up the regulator. The industry hopes the auction process will take place. Operators need spectrum so that they can roll out 4G broadband. The various businesses that are developing faster speed telephones and broadband need this. They need certainty and the business community needs certainly. I would appreciate it if the Minister would make a statement on the matter.